Blackburn Hamlet Bypass Extension and Cumberland Transitway Westerly
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1 Report to Rapport au: Transportation Committee / Comité des transports February 1, 2017 / 1 février 2017 Submitted on January 17, 2017 Soumis le 17 janvier 2017 Submitted by Soumis par: Vivi Chi, Manager / Gestionnaire, Transportation Planning / Planification des transports, Transportation Services Department / Direction générale des transports (613) 580-2424, 21877, [email protected] Contact Person Personne ressource: Frank McKinney, Program Manager, Transportation Environmental Assessments / Gestionnaire de programme, Evaluation environmentale des transports 613-580-2424x28540, [email protected] Ward: INNES (2) File Number: ACS2017-TSD-PLN-0002 SUBJECT: Blackburn Hamlet Bypass Extension and Cumberland Transitway Westerly (Blair Road to Brian Coburn Boulevard) - Environmental Assessment Study - Alternate Corridor – Statement of Work OBJET: Prolongement de la rocade de Blackburn Hamlet et Transitway de Cumberland vers l’ouest (du chemin Blair au boulevard Brian Coburn) – Étude d’évaluation environnementale – Couloir de rechange – Énoncé des travaux 2 REPORT RECOMMENDATION That the Transportation Committee approve the Statement of Work for the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass Extension and Cumberland Transitway Westerly (Blair Road to Brian Coburn Boulevard) Environmental Assessment Study – Alternate Corridor, as outlined in this report and as detailed in Document 1. RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT Que le Comité des transports approuve l’énoncé des travaux de l’étude d’évaluation environnementale du couloir de rechange pour le prolongement de la rocade de Blackburn Hamlet et le Transitway de Cumberland vers l’ouest (du chemin Blair au boulevard Brian Coburn), comme l’indique le présent rapport et le précise le document 1. BACKGROUND The Environmental Assessment (EA) for the four-lane Blackburn Hamlet Bypass Extension (BHBPE) from the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass to Trim Road was completed and approved in 1999. Portions of this BHBPE have been renamed to Brian Coburn Boulevard and a two-lane road is already built east of Mer Bleue Road. The two-lane section from Navan Road to Mer Bleue is currently under construction. The 2013 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) identified the section from Navan Road to the Blackburn Hamlet Bypass as a Phase 2 project (2020-2025), this section of roadway still retained its original name (BHBPE) and is the subject of this report. The EA for the Cumberland Transitway (Blackburn Hamlet Bypass to Frank Kenney Road) was also undertaken at the same time as the BHBPE EA due to their proximity, particularly for the section from the Bypass to Mer Bleue Road. Through this section, the road and transit facility run parallel and immediately adjacent to one another. The Cumberland Transitway EA was also approved in 1999 and because the study followed the Individual EA process, there is no expiry date for this EA. The TMP identified the Transitway construction as post 2031. A recent geotechnical analysis concluded that the soil conditions are very poor in the vicinity of the planned BHBPE (Blackburn Hamlet Bypass to Navan Road). To design and construct the roadway would require the existing budget envelope of $17.5M to increase to approximately $70M. This planned corridor is no longer affordable and therefore a more cost-effective alternate corridor must be found. Similarly, an alternate corridor for the Cumberland Transitway in this vicinity must also be developed because 3 a change in the location of the roadway has ramifications for the location of the future Transitway corridor. Figure 1 depicts the current EA-approved corridors for the roadway and Transitway, in the area of concern. Figure 2 depicts the new location for the Chapel Hill Park and Ride Lot, as per the approved Chapel Hill Park and Ride Alternate Site EA Environmental Assessment Study, 2016. Figure 1: EA Approved Corridors 4 Figure 2: EA Approved Relocated Chapel Hill Park and Ride, 2016 Since the construction is currently underway to complete Brian Coburn Boulevard (Navan Road to Mer Bleue Road) by the fall of 2017, the outcome of this study may have implications on the short section of Brian Coburn between Navan Road and Pagé Road, depending on the recommended corridor. It is staff’s assessment that in the worst case scenario (for example: if the road profile between Navan Road and Pagé Road needs to be adjusted, requiring a full rebuild of this section), the implications on the current contract would be in the order of $2M. While unlikely, there is the potential that this amount could be a throwaway cost. Staff will use every possible measure to ensure that this risk is minimized or eliminated. Design work on the relocated Chapel Hill Park and Ride lot will be underway shortly. There are two bus access points along Brian Coburn Boulevard which could potentially be affected by a new alignment for the BHBP Extension. Prior to construction of the lot, the EA study will have enough information to inform the Park and Ride project if the accesses onto Brian Coburn have to be redesigned. Additional cost for the potential redesign is in the order of $ 50K. This report describes the proposed Statement of Work (project scoping) for the study of alternate corridors for the BHBPE and Cumberland Transitway. Details are provided in 5 Document 1. A combined study is being undertaken, which will follow the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process (Schedule C), in accordance with the Ontario EA Act. DISCUSSION The EA study limits will extend from Blair Road to Brian Coburn Boulevard and south to Anderson/Renaud Road to allow for a larger range of alternatives to be examined. The Study Area is shown in Figure 3. Figure 3: Study Area The majority of the study area is the National Capital Commission (NCC) Greenbelt lands. The original corridors (as per the original EAs) also affect the edge of the Greenbelt and are included as transportation projects in the NCC’s 2013 Greenbelt Master Plan. Deviations from those original corridors will require NCC approval. Key tasks for this EA study include the following: Confirmation of the future east-west transportation demand in the eastern part of the City; Development of alternative corridors to address travel demand; 6 Assessment of walking and cycling infrastructure requirements and connections; Assessment and evaluation of environmental implications: o Geotechnical conditions; o Wetlands, natural environmental areas and features; o Stormwater management, hydrology; o Cumulative effects on the Greenbelt; and, o Adjacent land uses and communities (existing and future). Development of mitigation measures; Development of a Recommended Plan for both the roadway and the transitway; Identify capital and operating costs for implementation; Consultation with community groups, stakeholders, and the NCC; and, Documentation. Development of plans and costing will reflect the differences in implementation timelines for the roadway and the transitway. This EA is expected to be completed in 24 months from contract award. RURAL IMPLICATIONS There are no rural implications. CONSULTATION Consultation will include meetings with key stakeholders through the Agency Consultation Group, Public Consultation Group, and Business Consultation Group as appropriate, including consultation with Aboriginal Communities. The NCC will be a key stakeholder for this study, as well as community groups in proximity to this project. Consultation with the broader general public will occur primarily through Open Houses. A dedicated project web page will be set up to share study information. COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR(S) Councillor Mitic is supportive of the expanded scope of study and will continue to advocate for and support the following: The Orleans projected population is expected to increase steadily over the next several years to an anticipated population of well over 135,000 by 2021 Any new corridor should not pose additional challenges to neighbourhood traffic congestion The corridor should look to improve quality of life for commuters and local residents who reside in the adjacent communities The preferred option would be to examine the viability to realign Renaud Road linking the existing Brian Coburn to the northern portion of the 90 degree curve west 7 of Mud Creek, therefore permitting the closure of the southern portion of the 90 degree curve to Joshua Street. This option would aim to reduce the amount of cut through traffic through the Bradley Estates neighbourhood. ADVISORY COMMITTEE(S) COMMENTS Consultation with the Accessibility Advisory Committee will be completed through the EA process. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS There are no legal impediments to implementing the recommendation in this report. RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS There are no risk management implications. ASSET MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS The recommendations documented in this report are consistent with the City’s Comprehensive Asset Management (CAM) Program (City of Ottawa Comprehensive Asset Management Program) objectives. The recommended approach, of expanding the EA study limits for alternate corridors for the BHBPE and Cumberland Transitway, is an efficient and affordable approach to project delivery which supports a forward looking approach to meet future challenges, including changing demographics and populations, legislative and environmental factors. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS Funding for this EA study is available within existing capital accounts. ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS There are no accessibility implications in this report. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS The study