Transportation Master Plan Stage 3

Final Report Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan Stage 3 April 2018 Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan – Stage 3 REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY OF WOOD BUFFALO TEAM Mazhar Hajhossein, Transportation Engineer, Project Manager Bipul Bhowmik, Transportation Engineer, Deputy Project Manager HDR TEAM Ian MacLeod, Project Manager John Hubbell, Project Advisor Carol Kong, P.Eng., Transportation Planner and Stakeholder Engagement Adam Beausoleil, P.Eng., Transportation Planner Simon Mueller, E.I.T., Transportation Planner Ian Murdoch, P.Eng., Transportation Planner Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan – Stage 3 Executive Summary Stage 1 of the TMP, completed in 2009, focused on the Stage 3 of the Transportation Master Plan (TMP) builds Fort McMurray City Centre (Lower Townsite). on the previous Stage 2 and Stage 1 plans, and provides a transportation strategy that is focused on Stage 2 of the TMP, completed in 2012, focused on the multi-modal integration and regional connectivity. The Urban Service Area of Fort McMurray. TMP is a blueprint for achieving the region’s Stage 3 of the TMP considers the transportation transportation vision over the next 10 years. system within the entire Regional Municipality of Wood Its purpose is to develop a regional transportation Buffalo, and takes a more current and holistic approach strategy, including policies and infrastructure to identifying future needs. recommendations to implement in the next 10 years. This regional approach balances the urban needs in Methodology and around Fort McMurray, along with the rural needs A Transportation Master Plan is a long-range planning in communities spread across the region. Stage 3 of tool that serves three key purposes: the TMP expands the study area and builds on the Defines an overall vision for the transportation system previous Stage 1 and 2 components, as shown in the Identifies strategies to achieve the vision exhibit below. Creates a framework for transportation decision making and investment The TMP recommends and prioritizes transportation infrastructure and policy improvements within the next 10 years. The TMP also supports the objectives of the Municipal Development Plan (MDP). The preparation of the TMP followed a layered approach which generally included a review of the policy framework, best practices, existing conditions and future trends, a gap / opportunity analysis, and recommendations. The final recommendations are compiled into the Implementation Plan. i Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan – Stage 3 Provincial Stakeholders Stakeholder and Community Engagement Alberta Transportation Stakeholder and community engagement is important to the Alberta Infrastructure success of a project, as those who are affected by a decision should have the opportunity to understand and influence the Oil Sands Stakeholders Oil Sands Community Alliance (OSCA) outcome of the project. Oil Sand Sustainable Development Secretariat (OSSDS) Multiple engagement events allowed stakeholders to Oil Sands Transit Group understand and inﬂuence the recommendations in a meaningful way. Rural Community Stakeholders Anzac FCSS The key objectives of the consultation were to: Anzac Willow Lake Community Association Inform stakeholders of the project, the study process, and Chard Métis Society study goals and outcomes; Christina River Dene Nation Council Provide opportunities for stakeholders to identify and Conklin Resource Development Advisory Committee communicate their comments, concerns, questions, and (CRDAC) issues; and Fort McKay Métis Group Obtain feedback on the study progress and Janvier Dene Wood Buffalo Community Association recommendations, and incorporate knowledge and ideas McMurray Métis (MNA Local 1935) into the study recommendations where possible. Vista Ridge / Saprae Creek Residents Society Stakeholders Stakeholder events The list of stakeholders included the following organizations: Context and Issues Stakeholder Workshop Fort McKay BBQ & Tradeshow Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Departments Anzac Community Leadership Meeting Engineering Conklin Resource Development Advisory Committee Planning Fort Chipewyan Hamlet Manager conference call Road Maintenance Operations See Appendices A & B for stakeholder engagement and Aboriginal and Rural Relations consultation details. Wood Buffalo Transit ii Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan – Stage 3 Study Aims City Centre Circulation Throughout the TMP study, the following transportation issues Improve access to and from the City Centre. were reviewed, with the aims identified below. Improve connectivity of the road network and circulation within the City Centre. Regional Transportation Network Redefine the function and character of Franklin Avenue, Support all users of the network. while also accommodating other travel modes and Balance the needs of regional movements and local travel. livability. Rural Communities Urban Parking Address the unique needs of each community and provide Address the balance of on-street parking and other more mobility options within and between rural potential uses, while managing the demand and supply for communities, as well as to Fort McMurray. urban parking. Regional Transit Active Transportation Encourage transit use and shift travel to higher occupancy Facilitate active transportation as an everyday mobility vehicles. option by expanding the recreational network to a utilitarian Extend the life and capacity of Highway 63 from the network. perspective of people movement rather than vehicle movement. Improve the livability of communities in and around Fort McMurray. iii Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan – Stage 3 Implementation Plan The Implementation Plan as shown in the following table lists the projects that are recommended for completion over the next 10 years. It includes a proposed timeline for implementation, as well as “high-level” cost estimates. Each recommendation is described as one or more of three categories: Do – recommendations that require action, such as revising municipal policies or bylaws Study – recommended new studies and study updates Build – construction or purchase of physical infrastructure and / or equipment. The recommendations are organized over three time periods: 2017 - 2021 2022 - 2026 2027 – Beyond iv Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan – Stage 3 2027- Row # Type Recommendation 2017-2021 2022-2026 Beyond In the planning for any future highway expansion from four to six lanes, work 1 Study with Alberta Transportation to plan for HOV and Transit. Investigate opportunities to develop a park and ride facility, possibly shared with other uses, in the Gregoire/Mackenzie Industrial Park area to intercept 2 Study auto commuters coming from communities south of Fort McMurray and going northbound to oil sands sites, for use by all transit services if desired. Implement mainline transit services on key transit corridors (Confederation Study / 3 Way, Thickwood Boulevard, Highway 63, Franklin Avenue, Gregoire Drive, Do MacKenzie Boulevard, and Saprae Creek Trail (Highway 69)). Review the current bus service to the Airport, considering whether it could 4 Study operate as more of an Express or Limited-Stop service. 5 Do Revise the Vehicle for Hire Bylaw, mandating accessible vehicle requirements. Contract with accessible taxis to supplement specialized SMART Bus transit 6 Do services. Review current rural community bus service and identify where demand 7 Study warrants increased service. Conduct a Feasibility Study to implement Higher Order Transit (BRT and LRT) 8 Study in key travel corridors. Implement revisions to the intersection of Franklin Avenue and MacDonald 9 Do Drive to prioritize movements between Franklin Avenue and Highway 63 / Athabasca River Bridge. Convert Morrison Street and/or Hardin Street at Highway 63 to right-in/right-out 10 Do only. Conduct a functional design study of a northbound Highway 63 overpass at Hardin Street based on the identified concept. The study should focus on the 11 Study cost, safety considerations of a left exit/entrance and length of time the improvement can provide benefits, noting that the concept could potentially be incorporated into six-laning of Highway 63. Conduct a functional design study of the extension of Fraser Avenue from 12 Study MacIver Street to Riedel Street, including potential realignment to Gordon White Avenue. v Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo Transportation Master Plan – Stage 3 2027- Row # Type Recommendation 2017-2021 2022-2026 Beyond Study / In conjunction with future rehabilitation, undertake functional design of Franklin 13 Do Avenue as an urban corridor, to improve the urban context of the street. 14 Do Provide an online and printed City Centre parking inventory map. Convert the bus staging area on the south side of MacDonald Drive, between 15 Do Morrison and Main Streets, to parallel on-street parking with a 2 hour restriction (relocate bus staging further away from the high activity area). Implement a 2 hour parking restriction along Franklin Avenue, with a 1 hour 16 Do time restriction between Morrison and Hardin Streets. 17 Study Investigate a pay for parking strategy within the City Centre. 18 Study Develop the parking policy requirements for large scale developments within the City Centre. 19 Do Implement updated off-highway vehicle

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