Freeway Project Update

Recommendation That the Standing Policy Committee on Transportation recommend to City Council: 1. That City Council endorse, in principle, the alignment of the , between Highway No. 14 (west) to Highway No. 7 (west) and from Highway No. 11 (south) to Highway No. 5 (east), as described in the South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study; and 2. That the Administration continue to work with the Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure to refine details of the project.

Topic and Purpose The purpose of this report is to seek City Council’s endorsement, in principle, of the proposed alignment and to provide an update on the status of this project, next steps that will be undertaken, and recommendations for further discussions.

Report Highlights 1. The Government of Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure (Ministry of Highways) has completed the South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study. 2. A preferred alignment for the Saskatoon Freeway segments connecting Highway No. 7 to Highway No. 14, and Highway No. 11 South to Highway No. 5 has been determined and is recommended for endorsement, in principle. 3. A river crossing of the Saskatoon Freeway will not be provided to connect Highway No. 11 to Highway No. 7 to the south. 4. The general location of the Saskatoon Freeway is now complete. 5. The Ministry of Highways intends to proceed with functional planning for this facility over the next three years.

Strategic Goal This report supports the Strategic Goal of Moving Around by supporting development of an integrated transportation network in Saskatoon.

Background In 1999, a partnership involving the Saskatchewan Highways and Transportation (now Ministry of Highways and Infrastructure), the Rural Municipality of Corman Park, and the City of Saskatoon (City) embarked on the Saskatoon Long-Term Transportation Planning Study. This study was completed in 2001 and resulted in the signing of the Fundamental Principles of Agreement (see Attachment 1). This study established the general desire of the partners to pursue the development of a highway route around

ROUTING: Community Services Dept. – SPC on Transportation – Ctiy Council DELEGATION: Lesley Anderson April 16, 2018 – File No. PL 7000-1 Page 1 of 5

Saskatoon Freeway Project Update

Saskatoon from Highway No. 11 (south) to Highway No. 14 (west) via an east and north corridor.

Subsequently, general location studies were undertaken during the years listed below to establish the alignment of this highway, including: 1) 2005 - East Perimeter Highway Functional Planning Study a) from Highway No. 11 (south) to Highway No. 16 (west) 2) 2009 - Perimeter Highway Study Phase 2 a) from Highway No. 16 (west) to Highway No. 14 (west) 3) 2018 - South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study a) from Highway No. 14 (west) to Highway No. 7 (west) b) from Highway No. 11 (south) to Highway No. 5 (east)

City Council endorsed the alignment of the first two phases of the Saskatoon Freeway project on February 27, 2006, and December 15, 2008, respectively.

Since the start of this project, other significant infrastructure has been planned and constructed; the city has grown substantially by 75,000 people to 271,000; and new planning directions have been embarked upon. These include: 1) South River Crossing Project, including Gordie Howe Bridge; 2) North Commuter Parkway Project, including a river crossing bridge connecting Marquis Drive to McOrmond Drive and Central Avenue; 3) Traffic Bridge replacement; 4) Growth Plan to Half a Million; and 5) Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth Regional Plan.

The Saskatoon Freeway is being planned as a high-speed, free-flow facility. Most of the route would consist of a four-lane, median-divided highway, although some sections may be two-lane highway. A design speed of 130 km per hour is being recommended with the expectation that the posted maximum speed limit would be 110 km per hour. A minimum public right-of-way of approximately 100 metres would be required throughout (this would not include adjacent utility corridors or buffers for land use separations if desired). Surface drainage would be accomplished with open-channel ditches adjacent to the roadway.

In order to accomplish free-flow traffic conditions at that design speed criteria, full- access roadway connections to the Saskatoon Freeway could not be considered at spacing closer than 3.2 km. Access would be provided at all provincial highways that are intersected by the Saskatoon Freeway and a limited number of municipal roads. The Saskatoon Freeway is similar to the freeway sections of but also differs in significant ways. The maximum allowable speed limit on Circle Drive is 90 km per hour, and access points are often provided at 1.6 km spacing or less. While still

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Saskatoon Freeway Project Update

considered a high-speed facility, Circle Drive is more accessible for urban trips than the Saskatoon Freeway.

Report Completion of South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study The City participated in the South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study with a representative on the steering committee (Mayor or designate) and on the technical review committee (Community Services Department, Planning and Development Division). Although complete, the full study has not yet been publicly released by the Ministry of Highways.

Throughout the planning process, City representatives advocated for: 1) a through route that connected all provincial highways and would provide for a bypass route for freight trucks and travellers not destined for, or stopping at, Saskatoon as a destination; 2) access points to the City and rural road network in order that the project would provide useful mobility for Saskatoon residents; and 3) opportunities for orderly land development patterns that might be created by a freeway route.

Preferred Alignments The South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study considered several alignment options (see Attachment 2). The preferred alignments were to connect Highway No. 14 (west) to Highway No. 7 (west) as shown in Attachment 3, and to connect Highway No. 5 (east) to Highway No. 11 (south) as shown in Attachment 4.

South River Crossing A traffic projection and cost/benefit analysis was undertaken for a Saskatoon Freeway to the south of Saskatoon that would include a river crossing. The analysis concluded that alignment options to connect Highway No. 11 (south) to Highway No. 7 (west) were not warranted and will not be pursued.

Saskatoon Freeway General Location is Complete and Ministry of Highways to Proceed With the completion of the South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study, the general location of the entire Saskatoon Freeway system has been established, and the Ministry of Highways has indicated that functional planning of the system will proceed in 2018 through 2020, subject to budget approval.

The Administration is in agreement with the preferred alignments indicated in the South Saskatoon Freeway General Location Study and is recommending endorsement of the alignment by the City of Saskatoon.

In addition, the Administration is recommending that further discussions be held with the Ministry of Highways to refine pertinent details of the project, including: 1) consideration of a utility corridor along the alignment;

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Saskatoon Freeway Project Update

2) opportunities to share existing infrastructure as an interim plan; 3) funding expectations of municipalities; 4) infrastructure ownership and maintenance; 5) opportunities for access points to the freeway; and 6) expected phasing, timing, and procurement methods.

Refinement of these aspects will assist with financial and associated infrastructure planning for the City.

The Administration will also be undertaking work to review the integration of the proposed Saskatoon Freeway with the City’s future urban landscape. It is critical that the Saskatoon Freeway work seamlessly with the City’s future transportation network and support the principles of the Growth Plan.

Options to the Recommendation City Council could defer endorsement, in principle, of the preferred alignment, pending discussions on the refinements as outlined in this report. This option is not recommended as these questions can be resolved as part of the functional planning work by the Ministry of Highways.

Public and/or Stakeholder Involvement The Ministry of Highways had undertaken public and stakeholder engagement as part of this study. Their engagement activities included seven stakeholder information sessions and three public information sessions.

Full details of their engagement activities are detailed in the study report.

Policy Implications As a result of the project proceeding, there may be policy impacts to the Saskatoon North Partnership for Growth Regional Plan; Bylaw No. 8769, Official Community Plan; and City sector plans.

Financial Implications There is no financial impact as a result of the City endorsing the alignment; however, the ultimate project may have future financial implications.

Other Considerations/Implications There are no environmental, privacy, CPTED implications or considerations; a communication plan is not required at this time.

Due Date for Follow-up and/or Project Completion A report on the outcome and timing of further studies will be necessary. The time frame for these reports is to be determined.

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Saskatoon Freeway Project Update

Public Notice Public notice, pursuant to Section 3 of Policy No. C01-021, Public Notice Policy, is not required.

Attachments 1. Saskatoon Long Term Transportation Planning Study – Fundamental Principles of Agreement 2. Land Use - Ministry of Highways - Saskatoon Freeway 3. Recommended Option – Highway No. 14 to Highway No. 7 4. Recommended Option – Highway No. 5 to Highway No. 11 South

Report Approval Written by: Don Cook, Manager, Long Range Planning Section Reviewed by: Lesley Anderson, Director of Planning and Development Approved by: Randy Grauer, General Manager, Community Services Department Angela Gardiner, Acting General Manager, Transportation and Utilities Department

S/Reports/2018/PD/TRANS – Saskatoon Freeway Project Update/ks

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