Region of Peel July 2012 Public Works & Transportation Highway 50 & Mayfield Road Class Environmental Assessment Final Environmental Study Report Volume 1: Environmental Study Report to Appendix E.2 Submitted by: HDR Corporation 144 Front Street West Suite 655 Toronto, ON M5J 2L7 www.hdrinc.com Region of Peel Highway 50 & Mayfield Road Class EA - Environmental Study Report ) CUTI, SUM M AR- The Region of Peel (Region) retained HDR to carry out a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) Study for potential roadway improvements to Highway 50 from Castlemore Road / Rutherford Road to Mayfield Road / Albion-Vaughan Road, as well as Mayfield Road from Highway 50 to Coleraine Drive. The study has been carried out as a Schedule C project in compliance with the Municipal Engineers Association (MEA) document Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Act (October 2000 as amended in 2007), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. This Class Environmental Assessment provides the detailed assessment to define the solution and design of improvements within the study area. Problem s In the Highway 50 and Mayfield Road study corridor there is a high level of congestion with existing traffic. The volumes are forecast to increase greatly in the coming years due to planned developments, and additional road capacity is needed to serve new development planned in the immediate area along with general traffic growth, by 2031. Currently, only the automobile is accommodated in the study area. There is a lack of sidewalks and bicycle facilities along the corridors. There is no infrastructure (e.g. bus shelter / pads, priority measures) to support transit service. With the area becoming an employment centre in the future multiple means of getting to and from work will be required to balance travel demand and encourage alternative modes. There are known storm water drainage problems along the corridor, particularly at the intersection of Mayfield Road and Highway 50. .pportunities The redevelopment of the roads in the study corridor will provide many opportunities to improve the transportation network in the area. The main element will be the addition of traffic capacity to the area network on top of improvements to the layout and design of the corridor. Potential opportunities for improvement include providing pedestrian and bicycle facilities along the corridors as well as protecting for transit priority measures to improve the reliability of transit service. The drainage problems that exist today will also have the opportunity to be solved in the process. There is also an opportunity to introduce improved streetscaping areas along the corridor creating a more attractive environment. July 2012 i HDR Project # 4956 Region of Peel Highway 50 & Mayfield Road Class EA - Environmental Study Report Preferred Alternative Planning Solution The Preferred Alternative Planning Solution is to: ° widen Highway 50 (between Mayfield Road and Castlemore Road) to 6 lanes; ° widen Mayfield Road (between Highway 50 and Coleraine Road) to 4 lanes; ° provide for sidewalks and multi-use trails along the corridors; ° support Travel Demand Management (e.g. carpool options, transit usage); and ° provide for transit priority measures. Preferred Design Concept Based on the evaluation of alternative design concepts for the typical cross-sections, the Preferred Alternative Cross-Section is to provide a full urban cross-section, including curb and gutter, along both the Highway 50 and Mayfield Road corridors. Since this area is designated to become entirely urbanized in the future, an urban cross-section would be consistent with these plans. Cyclists and pedestrians will be accommodated behind the curb and as such, are protected from traffic. Based on the evaluation of alternative design concepts for the Highway 50 corridor, the Preferred Design Concept is to widen Highway 50 from 4 to 6 lanes to the east and west sides while providing a slight easterly shift of alignment in the vicinity of Shiloh Cemetery. Based on the evaluation of alternative design concepts for the Mayfield Road corridor, the Preferred Design Concept is to widen Mayfield Road from 2 to 4 lanes to the north and south sides minimizing impacts to properties with a southerly shift of alignment in the vicinity of Pillsworth Road. The Preferred Design Concept for Mayfield Road provides a roundabout at Pillsworth Road. Sum m ary of Public Consultation Process In accordance with the Municipal Class EA process, the Region conducted a comprehensive public consultation program, with the following components: ° Property Owners Mailing List – Approximately 140 members of the public on the mailing list were sent letters and notices at study commencement, prior to each of the public meetings and at study completion. ° Stakeholder Mailing List – Members of the stakeholder mailing list were sent letters and notices at study commencement, prior to each of the public meetings and at study completion. ° Public Information Centres (PIC) – Two PICs were held in the vicinity of the study area. Both PICs consisted of a public open house with display panels. July 2012 ii HDR Project # 4956 Region of Peel Highway 50 & Mayfield Road Class EA - Environmental Study Report ° Newspaper Advertisements – A newspaper advertisement was placed in the Brampton Guardian, Caledon Enterprise and the Vaughan Citizen to announce the Commencement of the Study, each round of PICs, and the Completion of the Study. Recom m ended Design Concept The Highway 50 recommended design proposes: 1. Widening about the centre-line between Mayfield Road and Castlemore Road to a 6 lane configuration. 2. A full urban cross-section to be implemented as development proceeds. 3. An easterly shift to avoid impacts to Shiloh Cemetery. 4. A 3.0m multi-use trail along the west side. 5. A 1.5m sidewalk along the east side (for future consideration). 6. External roadside ditches along the corridor to intercept existing drainage from farm fields. The Mayfield Road recommended design proposes: 1. Widening about the centre-line between Highway 50 and Coleraine Road to a 4 lane configuration. 2. A roundabout at the Mayfield Road and Pillsworth Road intersection. 3. A full urban cross-section to be implemented as development proceeds. 4. A southerly shift to reduce impacts on four existing residential properties. 5. A 3.0m multi-use trail along the south side. 6. A 1.5m sidewalk along the north side. 7. External roadside ditches along the corridor to intercept existing drainage from farm fields. July 2012 iii HDR Project # 4956 Region of Peel Highway 50 & Mayfield Road Class EA - Environmental Study Report TA01 .2 C.NT NTS Executive Summary ................................................................................................................. i Problems ........................................................................................................................... i Opportunities .................................................................................................................... i Preferred Alternative Planning Solution ......................................................................... ii Preferred Design Concept ............................................................................................... ii Summary of Public Consultation Process ....................................................................... ii Recommended Design Concept ..................................................................................... iii Table of Contents ..................................................................................................................... i 1. Introduction ................................................................................................................... 1 1.1 Study Purpose ........................................................................................................ 1 1.2 Study Area ............................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Class Environmental Assessment Process ............................................................. 3 1.4 Study Organization ................................................................................................ 8 1.5 Study Schedule ...................................................................................................... 9 1.6 Agency Participation ........................................................................................... 10 1.7 Summary of Public Consultation Process ............................................................ 11 1.8 Correspondence with First Nations ..................................................................... 12 2. Existing Conditions ..................................................................................................... 14 2.1 Traffic .................................................................................................................. 14 2.2 Existing Transit Operations ................................................................................. 18 2.3 Socio-Economic ................................................................................................... 18 2.4 Utilities ................................................................................................................ 18 2.5 Natural Environment ........................................................................................... 19 2.6 Archaeology ........................................................................................................