Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Regional Municipality of York December 13, 2018 Accessible formats are available upon request. Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue This page is intentionally left blank. Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Executive Summary Introduction The Regional Municipality of York (York Region) retained HDR to conduct two Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) studies to assess potential improvements along 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and York/Durham Line (16th Avenue Corridor). Study A is from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue in the Town of Richmond Hill and City of Markham, and Study B is from Woodbine Avenue to York/Durham Line in the City of Markham. The two EA studies were carried out in accordance with the planning and design process for Schedule ‘C’ projects, as outlined in the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA), Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) guidelines (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, and 2015). The Environmental Study Report (ESR) documents the MEA Schedule ‘C’ Class EA process completed for the 16th Avenue Class EA studies, summarizing Phases 1 through 4 of the MCEA Schedule ‘C’ EA process. A separate ESR was prepared for Study Corridor A and Study Corridor B. This document presents the ESR for Study Corridor A between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue. The ESR for Study Corridor B between Woodbine Avenue and York/Durham Line will be available under separate cover. Background The 16th Avenue Class EAs span approximately 20.3 km of Regional road. The 16th Avenue Corridor A and Corridor B are shown in ES Exhibit 1. The study corridors are inclusive of all intersections. For the purposes of traffic analysis, the area inclusive of Major Mackenzie Drive to the north and Highway 7 to the south (Study Area) was considered to enhance the project team’s understanding of any potential east-west traffic diversion between parallel arterials that may impact the 16th Avenue corridor as shown. The Rutherford/Carrville Road/16th Avenue corridor is a key element of the Regional Road network and the Transit Priority Network, as it is the only continuous east-west corridor across York Region from the Peel Region boundary to the Durham Region boundary. It can be considered the “spine” of the Transit Priority Network in southern York Region connecting with the provincial highway network, commuter GO rail services, the Region’s Rapid Transit network, other Transit Priority Corridors, and the local municipal road networks. Implementation of works along 16th Avenue is scheduled to be staged over different construction years as per the Region’s current approved 2018 10-year Roads and Transit Capital Construction Program. December 13, 2018 | i Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue ES Exhibit 1: 16th Avenue EAs Study Area and Study Corridors Study Purpose The purpose of the Class EA study is to determine specific improvements to the 16th Avenue corridor, and to address short term and long term transportation needs for pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and motorists. The 16th Avenue corridor from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue was divided into distinct segments for analysis based on existing and future characteristics. These segments were assessed to develop alternative solutions, which were further developed into alternative design concepts. The corridor segments for the purpose of developing alternative design concepts along with a summary of their key characteristics are presented below and illustrated in ES Exhibit 2: Segment A-1: Yonge Street to Bayview Avenue Land use consists of mostly residential properties, with some commercial and institutional areas The majority of properties have direct access to/from 16th Avenue 16th Avenue bridge over the CN/Richmond Hill GO Rail Crossing German Mills Creek Possible intensification at Yonge Street and 16th Avenue/Carrville Road (Yonge Street and 16th Avenue Key Development Area) Falls within the jurisdiction of the Town of Richmond Hill Continuous sidewalk on both sides No designated cycling facilities Segment A-2: Bayview Avenue to Leslie Street Land use consists of mostly residential properties, with some commercial areas The majority of properties back or side onto 16th Avenue (no direct access to/from 16th Avenue) Falls within the jurisdiction of the Town of Richmond Hill ii | December 13, 2018 Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Continuous sidewalk on both sides No designated cycling facilities Segment A-3: Leslie Street to Woodbine Avenue Land use consists of mostly industrial and commercial properties (Highway 404 Employment Area) Highway 404 interchange consisting of one northbound on-ramp on the north, one southbound on-ramp on the north, two off-ramps on the north, and one southbound on-ramp on the south. Existing traffic exceeds capacity near Highway 404 interchange Beaver Creek and Rouge River Falls within the jurisdiction of the Town of Richmond Hill and the City of Markham Discontinuous sidewalk No designated cycling facilities ES Exhibit 2: 16th Avenue Corridor A Segments December 13, 2018 | iii Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Needs Assessment The needs assessment involves the identification and evaluation of existing and future needs of the transportation network with respect to accommodating all users (pedestrians, cyclists, transit, and motorists), network capacity, traffic safety and design and operation. The purpose of the Needs Assessment is to identify and define existing and future capacity, safety, and operational needs along 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue for all road users. While a separate EA study was undertaken for 16th Avenue between Woodbine Avenue and York/Durham Line, the transportation needs and opportunities were assessed concurrently and holistically for both 16th Avenue study corridors. Transportation Needs A summary of transportation needs in the 16th Avenue study corridor is summarized below: Autos Similar to the existing traffic patterns, future traffic on 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue is highest in the westbound direction during the weekday AM peak hour, and in the eastbound direction during the weekday PM peak hour. Higher traffic volumes are experienced at and adjacent to the Highway 404 interchange. Future vehicular level of service for individual intersections and road segments (links) between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue in the PM peak period have been assessed. In general, the entire segment of 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue is either approaching capacity or over capacity, and will experience significant congestion. Transit The 2016 York Region Transportation Master Plan (YR-TMP) recommends a Transit Network where transit priority measures are implemented to increase travel speeds and reliability of transit service, and encourage transit as a viable transportation mode. The YR-TMP identifies Rutherford Road/Carrville Road/16th Avenue as a Frequent Transit Network corridor between Highway 27 and Donald Cousens Parkway, with transit service by 2041 at every 15 minutes or less between 6:00AM and 10:00PM, 7-days per week. Opportunities to improve transit along 16th Avenue in support of the Frequent Transit Network include: Dedicated Transit/HOV lanes to improve speed and reliability Connections to cycling and pedestrian facilities to minimize overall travel time and encourage modes of travel alternative to the single occupant automobile Widening for Transit/HOV lanes is consistent with York Region’s policies for roadway expansions, where it is noted that expanding capacity beyond four lanes should be solely for the addition of HOV and/or transit priority lanes. Through its Regional Express Rail project, Metrolinx is embarking on a massive transformation of the existing GO rail system. Future plans include more frequent rush-hour service (every 15 minutes) along the Richmond Hill Line, which intersects the 16th Avenue corridor. iv | December 13, 2018 Schedule ‘C’ Environmental Assessment for 16th Avenue from Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue Cyclists The study corridor is a high traffic volume and high speed corridor without any separated cycling facilities. As such, cyclists are expected to ride in mixed traffic. At intersections, cyclists making a left or right turn are not accommodated in a controlled manner and are subjected to crossing several lanes of traffic to make left turns and traversing long right turn lanes. There is the need to provide separated facilities to improve the comfort, operation, and attractiveness of cycling. Pedestrians There are gaps in the sidewalk network and midblock pedestrian crossing opportunities along 16th Avenue. There is high pedestrian activity at key nodes, including at Yonge Street. There is a clear need to improve the existing sidewalk network. The analysis of future needs and opportunities further reinforces the need for improvements to 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue to accommodate all road users – pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motorists. Operation and Geometric Needs The horizontal and vertical alignment along the study corridor was reviewed against geometric standards. This review determined