Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report The Corporation of the Town of Innisfil May 2018 100 York Boulevard, Suite 300 Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1J8 289.695.4600 hdrinc.com We practice increased use of sustainable materials and reduction of material use. © 2018 HDR, Inc., all rights reserved. Town of Innisfil | Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report Executive Summary In March 2017, the Town of Innisfil (Town) initiated a Transportation Master Plan (TMP) Update to address existing and future auto, transit, cycling and pedestrian needs within Innisfil. The Town is bordered by Lake Simcoe to the east, the Township of Essa and the Town of New Tecumseth to the west, the City of Barrie to the north, and the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury to the south. A location map is presented in Exhibit A. Exhibit A: Location of the Town of Innisfil The Town’s previous 2013 TMP provided a long-term guide and strategy for the Town to manage planned population and employment growth to the year 2031. This TMP Update plans for a longer-term horizon to the year 2041, which takes into account Amendment 2 of the Provincial Growth Plan, Metrolinx’s announcement to build the Innisfil GO Station, updated plans by Simcoe County and neighbouring municipalities, the Town’s Draft Official Plan Update, which was adopted at the January 17th, 2018 Council meeting, the Town’s Trails Master Plan, and the implementation of on-demand transit service. hdrinc.com 100 York Boulevard, Suite 300, Richmond Hill, ON, CA L4B 1J8 (289) 695-4600 i Town of Innisfil | Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report This document builds on these plans to develop a well-integrated, multimodal and sustainable transportation network that will result in: • Better support for all modes of travel • Better connections between communities within Innisfil and with its neighbouring municipalities • Improved mobility for people of all ages and abilities • Improved accessibility to Town and Simcoe County facilities and services • Reduced reliance of autos for local trips within the Town • An efficient and safe transportation network • A sustainable and resilient transportation system To meet these objectives, the TMP Update: • Plans for and identifies actions to leverage emerging technologies and mobility options, such as automated and connected vehicles, electric vehicles (EV), and bike share services • Identifies road and trail network improvements • Considers fixed route transit opportunities for Innisfil • Develops a peak hour traffic model to forecast future travel demand • Develops “Made in Innisfil” policies, including the Complete Street Guidelines, Traffic Calming Policy, Speed Limits Policy, Sidewalk Prioritization Policy, Pedestrian Crossing Policy, Gravel Road Prioritization Policy, Slurry Seal Policy and Roundabout Implementation Policy • Provides financial planning and input to Development Charges update A. Study Approach and Consultation The TMP Update follows Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011 & 2015), including a public consultation component. The following summarizes the public announcements and opportunities for public and agency input and participation in the study: • Notice of Study Commencement in March 2017 • Public opinion survey, to understand the transportation needs and concerns of Town residents, open between April 2017 and June 2017. The survey was available both online and in paper-copy formats at the Innisfil Town Hall and Public Libraries. The survey questionnaire and findings are provided in Appendix A. • Updates and references to the study through the Town of Innisfil website at: http://www.innisfil.ca/TMP • Two public open houses, at the Innisfil Town Hall in June 2017 and the Innisfil Recreational Complex (IRC) in September 2017. Public open house materials can be found in Appendix B • Three Technical Agencies Committee (TAC) meetings with Town staff and external stakeholders held in April, May and September 2017 hdrinc.com 100 York Boulevard, Suite 300, Richmond Hill, ON, CA L4B 1J8 (289) 695-4600 ii Town of Innisfil | Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report B. The Current Transportation System The Town of Innisfil’s existing transportation network includes provincial, county and local roads, sidewalks and trails, a new on-demand local transit service, and commuter transit service via GO Bus and GO Rail stations located just outside the Town’s boundaries. Although some elements of an active transportation network are present, they are limited and scattered throughout the Town. Increased connectivity in the transportation system (including trails, sidewalks and on-street bicycle infrastructure), within and between settlement areas is needed to encourage non-auto trips. Based on a review of the existing network, a number of local transportation issues were identified including a number of hotspot locations where congestion is present. These locations include the Innisfil Beach Road on-ramps and off-ramps to Highway 400, Innisfil Beach Road east of 20th Sideroad, Innisfil Beach Road west of 20th Sideroad, and Highway 89 at Cookstown. Several intersections throughout the Town, such as the Innisfil Beach Road and 20th Sideroad near Alcona, and King St. and Queen St. in Cookstown, are also approaching or at capacity under existing conditions. In addition, there are trends of an increasing number of vehicles per household and population growth. This may place further pressures on Innisfil’s road network unless additional measures are in place to encourage the use of active modes and public transportation. Speeding and intersection queuing concerns were also identified from the background research and existing conditions documentation. These concerns were gathered from the TMP online survey, traffic analysis, and discussions with the Town, Council and the public. C. Future Growth The Town of Innisfil’s population is projected to grow significantly from approximately 36,600 people today to about 71,400 people by 2041. This growth presents the Town with a set of issues, challenges and opportunities in planning for the future. The projected population growth includes significant planned developments in the short-term including Big Bay Point, Sandy Cove, Alcona, and Lefroy. Major employment growth is also expected in the Town, specifically in the Innisfil Heights Expansion Area and the 6th Line Hospital Campus. The future Innisfil GO station, located on 6th Line east of 20th Sideroad, is also expected to have an impact on the Town as shown in Exhibit B. In addition, the City of Barrie has plans to grow significantly in the Annexed Lands, which are projected to grow from greenfield today to approximately 40,800 population and 10,400 employment by 2031. The Town’s various existing and potential future settlement and employment areas and the Barrie Annexed Lands are illustrated in Exhibit B. hdrinc.com 100 York Boulevard, Suite 300, Richmond Hill, ON, CA L4B 1J8 (289) 695-4600 iii Town of Innisfil | Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report Exhibit B: Future Growth Areas D. A Transportation Vision for Innisfil The Town of Innisfil is characterized by distinct communities which are spread out and not well connected. The majority of travel in the Town is by car. By 2041, the Town’s population and employment numbers are expected to double. Without a balanced transportation strategy, hdrinc.com 100 York Boulevard, Suite 300, Richmond Hill, ON, CA L4B 1J8 (289) 695-4600 iv Town of Innisfil | Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report Innisfil residents will experience increases in traffic congestion which will impact their quality of life. Future opportunities to improve the transportation network have been identified in the Town through the recently completed Trails Master Plan, new GO station planned at 6th Line, and a new demand-responsive transit service. By capitalizing on these needs and opportunities, the Town can achieve its transportation vision: Innisfil’s transportation system connects people and communities, fosters healthy living, and operates innovatively and efficiently across the Town as an environmentally and financially sustainable, resilient system ready for the future. E. Planning Alternatives Planning Alternatives were developed in accordance with Phase 2 of the Environmental Assessment process to address the problem statement and to support the transportation vision for the Town. Four planning alternatives were defined: 1. Base Case: incorporates planned road improvements by the Ministry of Transportation Ontario and Simcoe County only; 2. Current Plans: further to Alternative 1, includes building the planned Town improvements from the 2013 TMP and the Trails Master Plan; 3. Balanced Approach: further to Alternative 2, it invests in new roads and road improvement projects, and Travel Demand Management (TDM) measures including Demand Responsive Transit, Bike-share, EcoMobility1 hubs and Zoning by-law revisions; and 4. Aggressive Approach: further to Alternative 3, invests in fixed-route transit. The evaluation of these alternatives is based on evaluation criteria which included transportation service, social equity in mobility, natural environment, policy, socio-economic, and financial implications. These criteria were presented at the second public open house and Technical Agency Committee meetings regarding the evaluation of alternatives and a draft preferred alternative. Following consultation with the public, external agencies and Town staff,