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Report to Rapport au:

Transportation Committee Comité des transports 3 June 2020 / 3 juin 2020

Submitted on May 25, 2020 Soumis le 25 mai 2020

Submitted by Soumis par: Vivi Chi, Manager / Gestionnaire, Transportation Planning / Planification des transports, Transportation Services Department / Direction générale des transports (613) 580-2424, 21877, Vivi.Chi@.ca

Contact Person Personne ressource: Jabbar Siddique, Senior Project Manager, Transportation Environmental Assessments / Gestionnaire principal de projet, Evaluation environmentale des transports (613) 580-2424, 13914, [email protected]

Ward: Kanata North (4); (6); and File Number: ACS2020-TSD-PLN-0004 Rideau-Goulbourn (21)

SUBJECT: Huntmar Drive Widening (Campeau to Maple Grove) and Stittsville Main Street Extension (Maple Grove to Robert Grant) Environmental Assessment Study – Statement of Work

OBJET: Étude d’évaluation environnementale relative à l’élargissement de la promenade Huntmar (entre la promenade Campeau et le chemin Maple Grove) et au prolongement de la rue Stittsville Main (entre le chemin Maple Grove et l’avenue Robert-Grant) – Énoncé des travaux

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REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That the Transportation Committee approve the Statement of Work for the Huntmar Drive Widening (Campeau to Maple Grove) and Stittsville Main Street Extension (Maple Grove to Robert Grant) Environmental Assessment Study, as outlined in this report and detailed in Document 1.

RECOMMANDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des transports approuve l’énoncé des travaux de l’étude d’évaluation environnementale relative à l’élargissement de la promenade Huntmar (entre la promenade Campeau et le chemin Maple Grove) et au prolongement de la rue Stittsville Main (entre le chemin Maple Grove et l’avenue Robert-Grant), comme l’indique le présent rapport et le précise le document 1.

BACKGROUND

The 2013 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) identifies the widening of Huntmar Drive (Campeau to Maple Grove) and Stittsville Main Street Extension (Maple Grove Road to Palladium Drive) as shown in Figure 1.

KANATA AVE

HUNTMAR DRIVE

FUTURE ROBERT GRANT AVE

STITTSVILLE MAIN STREET EXTENSION

Figure 1: Planned Roads TMP

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The section of Stittsville Main Street Extension east of future Robert Grant Avenue to Palladium Drive was later eliminated from the Official Pan (OP) as part of the OPA #150 and approved by the Land Planning Appeals Tribunal on July 29, 2019. Therefore, the new road extension will now connect to Robert Grant Avenue west of Huntmar Drive as shown in Figure 2. The Environmental Assessment (EA) study for Robert Grant Avenue was completed through the Kanata West Transportation Master Plan (2006) in which it was identified as the North-South Arterial.

Figure 2: Huntmar Drive Widening and Stittsville Main Street Extension

Widening of Huntmar Drive (approximately 1.7 km long) and Stittsville Main Street Extension (approximately 1 km long) are two distinct road projects; however, they will

4 be assessed together under one study due to their physical proximity to each other, and for economies of scale.

The study limits will extend from in the east to Carp Road in the west and from Campeau Drive in the north to in the south. This will allow for a range of alternatives to be examined.

Although the implementation of these projects is not planned for the near term, undertaking the EA study now will allow the identification and protection of the right-of- way to prevent the corridors from development encroachments and ensure coordination with the ongoing and planned land developments in the surrounding area of Kanata West and Stittsville.

The EA study will be conducted as a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Schedule C in accordance with the Environmental Assessment Act. This Statement of Work (SOW) report outlines the scope, methodology and deliverables of the EA Study. Details of the SOW are described in Document 1.

DISCUSSION

Huntmar Drive Widening (Campeau to Maple Grove):

Huntmar Drive is a north-south arterial road beginning at March Road in the north and terminating at Hazeldean Road in the south (Figure 2). South of Hazeldean Road, it continues as Iber Road to Fernbank Road.

Huntmar Drive connects with Campeau Drive in the north at a roundabout and with Maple Grove Road in the south at a signalized intersection. Within the project limits, it crosses over Highway 417 on a two-lane bridge which does not include sidewalk and cycling facilities and falls within the jurisdiction of MTO. North of Highway 417, Huntmar Drive provides a connection to the Tanger Outlets and the developing residential community along Campeau Drive. South of Highway 417, Huntmar Drive traverses between the (CTC) to the east and the Kanata Autopark to the west while continuing southerly to Maple Grove Road.

The existing roadway cross-section varies from two to four lanes within the project limits with auxiliary lanes at major intersections. Near Campeau Drive, where the roadway abuts Tanger Outlets site, there is a short 130 metre segment that has a four-lane urban cross-section with sidewalks and cycle tracks. South of it, the roadway transitions to a two-lane rural cross-section where it also crosses the Feedmill Creek. The section between Cyclone Taylor and Palladium Drive has a four-lane cross-section with a

5 sidewalk provided on the east side only. South of Palladium Drive, the roadway transitions to an urban two-lane roadway.

Due to the inconsistencies of cross-sections and missing active transportation links, the entire section of Huntmar Drive (Campeau to Maple Grove) will be studied and the resulting plan will be a continuous and uniform corridor for all modes of transportation. Widening of Huntmar Bridge over Highway 417 to four-lanes with pedestrian and cycling facilities will require coordination with the MTO.

Land use on either side of Huntmar Drive is designated in the OP as “Mixed Use Centre”. The Canadian Tire Centre (CTC) is considering a major redevelopment and there are other new neighbourhood developments occurring between Palladium Drive and Maple Grove Road, on both sides of Huntmar Drive, such as:

• 130 Huntmar Dive – 631 residential units and school.

• 173 Huntmar Drive – 208 residential units and commercial; and,

• 195 Huntmar Drive – 714 residential units, district park, commercial, employment and school.

Widening of Huntmar Drive will provide additional capacity to support the travel demand resulting from the ongoing and future developments in the area. It will also complement the future four-lane Campeau Drive being constructed to the north and Robert Grant Avenue in the south.

Stittsville Main Street Extension (Maple Grove to Robert Grant):

Stittsville Main Street is a major north-south roadway in the Stittsville Ward. It starts in the south at Flewellyn Road and ends in the north at a cul-de-sac near Maple Grove Road. The TMP identifies the section of Stittsville Main Street north of Hazeldean Road as a major collector while the section south of it is identified as an arterial roadway. It generally has two travel lanes with auxiliary turn lanes at major intersections. South of Hazeldean Road where it intersects with Carp Road, it provides access to Highway 417 via Carp Road interchange.

Land Use on either side of the future Stittsville Main Street Extension is comprised of undeveloped lands designated in the OP as General Urban Area. The existing proposed developments which currently have active application status are:

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• 1919 Maple Grove Road - Plan of Subdivision with 26 semi-detached units,39 townhome units, 460 apartment units and a park;

• 1981 Maple Grove Road – Plan of Subdivision with approximately 200 residential units and a park; and,

• 195 Huntmar Drive – 714 residential units, district park, commercial, employment and school.

The future extension of Stittsville Main Street will provide capacity for growth in the Stittsville Ward and the surrounding existing and planned communities. It will also complement the planned extension of Robert Grant.

The extension of Stittsville Main Street will also offer an alternate access to Highway 417 through the Palladium Drive interchange.

There are undeveloped lands west of the future Stittsville Main Street Extension alignment which extend to Carp Road and to Highway 417 in the north. The southern part of these vacant lands is designated in the OP as General Urban Area/Developing Community (Expansion Area). Although, there is no active application for the development of these land parcels, geoOttawa shows an east-west road allowance dedicated along the southerly edge of these lands that would link the future Stittsville Main Street Extension to Carp Road at Rothbourne Road. The EA study will have regard for this possible connection to the future Stittsville Main Street Extension.

The EA Study will identify and protect the corridor for the widening of Huntmar Drive and the new Stittsville Main Street Extension, allowing the City to respond effectively to development applications in this area. A protected corridor provides the opportunity to request the land be transferred to the City as a condition of development approval.

Key tasks for the EA Study include the following:

• Confirmation of the future transportation demand in the study area;

• Development of corridor and design options to address the forecast travel demand;

• Application of the Complete Street framework and multimodal level of service analysis;

• Assessment of walking and cycling infrastructure and connection requirements;

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• Assessment and evaluation of environmental conditions such as:

o Geotechnical;

o Wetlands, natural environmental areas and features;

o Stormwater management and hydrology;

o Adjacent land uses and communities (existing and future); and,

o Urban character of the area.

• Development of mitigation measures;

• Detailed traffic analysis;

• Development of a Recommended Plan for the widening of Huntmar Drive and Stittsville Main Street Extension (including functional design);

• Identification of capital cost for implementation;

• Consultation with community groups and stakeholders; and,

• Documentation.

This EA Study is planned to be completed within 18 months from the date of award of contract to the selected consulting firm.

RURAL IMPLICATIONS

The study area for Huntmar Drive widening and Stittsville Main Street Extension is primarily located within the urban boundary, therefore, it does not have a direct impact on the rural area of the city.

CONSULTATION

Consultation will include meetings with key stakeholders through the Agency Consultation Group (ACG), Business Consultation Group (BCG) and Public Consultation Group (PCG), including consultation with Indigenous groups. Consultation with the general public will occur primarily through Open Houses. Much of the consultation can be done on-line or through video/teleconferencing and therefore a dedicated project web page will be set up to share study information and seek feedback.

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COMMENTS BY THE WARD COUNCILLOR(S)

Ward 4: The Councillor is aware of the report and is supportive of the work.

Ward 6: The extension of Stittsville Main Street and upgrades to Huntmar Drive are essential improvements to the north-south transportation network in Stittsville. Development patterns have seen the Fernbank area developed before Kanata-West, effectively cutting off the populous south end of Stittsville from Highway 417. This development pattern has also prevented the logical build-out of the Robert Grant Avenue north-south arterial, sending traffic down major collector roads at speeds and concentrations that make it impossible to encourage active transportation for all but the most risk-loving cyclists and pedestrians.

Over the last 10 years, residential development has far outpaced the completion of planned transportation infrastructure. Development approvals based on policy without a reasonable timeline for building and financing the road projects are causing increasing cynicism toward development and intensification in Stittsville at a time when we need our residents’ support more than ever.

While by-pass options do allow cars access to every part of Stittsville, the absence of safe active transportation amenities fosters car dependence and limits opportunities to walk and bike in the community. The construction of the Huntmar Bridge over the 417 without even a sidewalk was a missed opportunity that must be rectified. We need to move forward as quickly as possible with the EA so that the roads can be constructed as soon as funding allows.

Ward 21: The Councillor is aware of the report and is in support of the work.

ADVISORY COMMITTEE(S) COMMENTS

Consultation with the Accessibility Advisory Committee will be undertaken through the EA process.

LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no legal impediments to approving the recommendation in this report.

RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are ongoing and proposed developments within the study area which also include a plan for the redevelopment of the CTC site. The EA study process will enable City staff to respond effectively to these development plans and facilitate consultation and

9 coordination with developers. The City’s Development Review Branch has been engaged.

ASSET MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS

There are no asset management implications associated with the recommendations of this report.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Funding for this EA study recommended by this report is available in capital project account 908210 2016 EA Studies Arterial Roads.

ACCESSIBILITY IMPACTS

There are no accessibility implications in this report. Development of the Recommended Plan for this project will comply with the City’s Accessibility Design Standards and other relevant guidelines.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

The EA study will examine and evaluate the project’s effects on the social, cultural, physical, and natural environments within the study area. Environmental impacts will be identified and appropriate mitigation measures will be developed.

TERM OF COUNCIL PRIORITY

The recommendation contained herein aims to support the following priority and outcomes of the City of Ottawa Strategic Plan 2019-2022:

Priority: Integrated Transportation

Outcomes:

• An integrated transportation network that incorporates all modes of getting around;

• Residents have easy access to their preferred transportation choice; and,

• Transportation infrastructure investment is sustainable and meets long-term needs.

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SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Document 1 - Huntmar Drive Widening (Campeau to Maple Grove) and Stittsville Main Street Extension (Maple Grove to Robert Grant) Environmental Assessment Study – Statement of Work

DISPOSITION

Following the Transportation Committee’s approval of the Statement of Work, the Transportation Services Department will initiate the process with the assistance of Supply Services to retain a consulting firm to assist the City in completing this Environmental Assessment Study. The EA Study will be completed as described in Document 1.