1 Report to Rapport Au: Transportation Committee Comité Des
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1 Report to Rapport au: Transportation Committee Comité des transports 6 September 2017 / 6 septembre 2017 Submitted on August 22, 2017 Soumis le 22 août 2017 Submitted by Soumis par: Vivi Chi, Manager / Gestionnaire, Transportation Planning / Planification des transports, Transportation Services Department / Direction générale des transports (613) 580-2424 extension / poste 21877, [email protected] Contact Person Personne ressource: Steven Boyle, Senior Project Manager / Gestionnaire principal de projet, Transportation Policy and Networks / Réseaux et politique de transport 613-580-2424 extension / poste 26087, [email protected] Ward: BARRHAVEN (3); KNOXDALE- File Number: ACS2017-TSD-PLN-0012 MERIVALE (9) SUBJECT: Woodroffe Avenue, Southwest Transitway and Fallowfield Road Rail Grade Separation Environmental Assessment Study – Statement of Work; and the Jockvale Road Multi-Use Pathway Rail Grade Separation Environmental Assessment Study – Statement of Work OBJET: Étude d’évaluation environnementale d’un saut-de-mouton ferroviaire à l’avenue Woodroffe, au Transitway sud-ouest et au chemin Fallowfield – Énoncé des travaux; et étude d’évaluation environnementale d’un saut-de-mouton ferroviaire au sentier polyvalent du chemin Jockvale - Énoncé des travaux. 2 REPORT RECOMMENDATIONS That the Transportation Committee approve: 1. The Statement of Work for the Woodroffe Avenue, Southwest Transitway and Fallowfield Road Rail Grade Separation Environmental Assessment Study, as outlined in this report and detailed in Document 1; and, 2. The Statement of Work for the Jockvale Road Multi-Use Pathway Rail Grade Separation Environmental Assessment Study, as outlined in this report and detailed in Document 2. RECOMMANDATIONS DU RAPPORT Que le Comite des transports approuve : 1. L’énoncé des travaux pour l’étude d’évaluation environnementale d’un saut-de-mouton ferroviaire a l’avenue Woodroffe, au Transitway sud-ouest et au chemin Fallowfield, tel que décrit dans le présent rapport et comme l’explique en détail le document 1; et, 2. L’énoncé des travaux pour l’étude d’évaluation environnementale d’un saut-de-mouton ferroviaire au sentier polyvalent du chemin Jackvale, tel que décrit dans le présent rapport et comme l’explique en détail le document 2. BACKGROUND In June 2017, the Transportation Committee and Council received the Barrhaven and Merivale Road Rail Grade Separation Study which had been undertaken in response to one of the recommendations of the Transportation Safety Board’s report on the 2013 rail and bus collision in Barrhaven. The Board had recommended that the City reconsider the need for rail grade separation at Woodroffe Avenue, the Southwest Transitway and Fallowfield Road. The City agreed, and in partnership with VIA Rail, undertook the study which additionally included review of the at-grade crossing locations at Merivale Road and Jockvale Road. Council directed the establishment of a Barrhaven Rail Safety Program. The mandate of this Program directs that funding be sought in the draft 2018 Capital Budget to undertake Environmental Assessment (EA) studies for the rail-grade separations as Woodroffe Avenue, the Southeast Transitway and Fallowfield Road as well as for the 3 multi-use pathway along Jockvale Road at the rail crossing. The subject locations are shown in Figure 1. Figure 1: EA crossing locations As there is a desire to move forward expeditiously with these Barrhaven grade separation EAs, this report seeks that the Transportation Committee approve the Statements of Work (SOW) in advance of retaining consultant services and initiating the studies. These EA studies will be conducted as Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Schedule C studies in accordance with the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The Statements of Work reports outline the scope, methodology and deliverables of the EA studies for Transportation Committee’s consideration. Details of the SOWs are described in Document 1 and Document 2. DISCUSSION The Statements of Work are for two separate new Environmental Assessments Studies for rail grade separation crossings at: 1) Woodroffe Avenue, the Southwest Transitway and Fallowfield Road, and, 2) the multi-use pathway along Jockvale Road. 4 1. Woodroffe, Southwest Transitway and Fallowfield – Overpass The 2017 Barrhaven and Merivale Road Rail Grade Separation Study recommends that rail grade separations are warranted at all studied locations and that their implementation should be phased in an order of priority starting with Woodroffe and the Southwest Transitway and next Fallowfield Road. The study foresees overpasses being constructed to carry Woodroffe Avenue and the adjacent Southwest Transitway over the rail line and also an overpass being built to carry Fallowfield Road over the rail line and the adjacent Southwest Transitway. This recommendation of overpasses differs from the dated 1997 Southwest Transitway Extension (Baseline Station to Strandherd Drive) Environmental Assessment Study which had as its recommended plan underpass solutions. This would have meant Woodroffe Avenue and the Southwest Transitway to be grade separated under the rail line and Fallowfield Road also to be grade separated under the Southwest Transitway and the rail line. In 2002 and 2003, geotechnical investigations were undertaken at these crossing locations to determine the general soil and groundwater conditions. Those studies identified significant problems with the underpass option due to soil conditions and the hydrogeological properties of the bedrock. Very significant risk to property and safety of persons both during construction and post-construction were revealed and decisions were made at that time not to advance with underpass grade separation. Because a significant amount of time has passed since the original EA was completed in 1997, there is a need to update the environmental inventory and existing conditions, and to develop a new functional design for the overpasses. The original EA was undertaken through the Individual Environment Assessment (IEA) process, and given changes to provincial EA processes, it is more expeditious to undertake a new EA study (Schedule C) rather than pursuing the route of an Addendum to the existing IEA which would incur a long approval process. 1.1 Major Tasks Key tasks for the EA study would include the following: Research and review recent relevant information, studies and reports such as: geo- technical findings undertaken for this study area, rail safety findings in regard to the grade rail crossings, the National Safety Board’s accident investigation report, etc.; 5 Review the technological changes over the last number of years, e.g. use of lightweight fills, that might impact the design and construction constraints of overpass/underpass construction in the study area; Develop design alternatives for grade separation; Assess and evaluate environmental implications: o Natural environment features; o Geotechnical conditions; o Stormwater management and hydrology; o Cumulative impacts on the Greenbelt; and, o Adjacent land use. Develop mitigation measures; Develop a Recommended Plan for the Woodroffe Avenue, Transitway and Fallowfield grade separation (including functional design); Identify capital and operating costs for implementation; Engage with VIA Rail throughout the EA process; Consult with the National Capital Commission, community groups and stakeholders; and, Develop documentation. The EA study is expected to be completed within approximately 24 months of the contract award. 2. Jockvale Road Multi-Use Pathway – Underpass There is an existing multi-use pathway (MUP) located along the southwest side of Jockvale Road. It is used by pedestrians and cyclists going to schools, nearby places of worship and other destinations in the community. This MUP crosses the VIA Rail line where 19 trains pass by on an average week day. The number is expected to increase in the future with the 2021 projection being 21 daily trains. There is a possibility that the increase could be 31 daily trains if the high frequency rail project that is currently being 6 looked into by VIA Rail and federal agencies is approved. There is a concern for the safety of these MUP users who walk or cycle across this rail crossing. The Barrhaven and Merivale Road Rail Grade Separation Study recommended an order of priority of grade separation, based on the greatest exposure of vehicle/train conflict, for the five studied at-grade crossing locations. If the implementation order is followed, Jockvale Road would be the last to be grade separated. Securing construction funding, estimated at $430 M (2017 dollars) from senior levels of government and VIA Rail for all five locations would take some time. As a result of these issues it is likely that the Jockvale Road roadway grade separation would be some years away and an interim grade separation for the MUP only is sought for implementation at an early date. The proposed EA study will examine this. Included will be review of how a grade separation of the MUP would fit into the longer term plan for road grade separation in the form of a roadway underpass for this location. Ideally a MUP grade separation could be constructed such that there is minimal or no throwaway when the road underpass is implemented. In Barrhaven there are grade separated MUPs under the rail line at three other locations: the closed south end of Cedarview Road; the connection between Conway Street; and, Valiant Street, at Longfields Station. Key tasks for this EA study