Ajax Transportation Master Plan Update Town of Ajax Planning and Development Services ® Town of Ajax Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report Ajax, Ontario December 2007 iTRANS Consulting Inc. 100 York Blvd., Suite 300 Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1J8 Tel: (905) 882-4100 Fax: (905) 882-1557 Email: [email protected] www.itransconsulting.com Project # 3665 Town of Ajax Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report Client Project Team Project Manager Angela Gibson, MSc.Pl., MCIP, RPP Planning and Development iTRANS Project Team Principal Tyrone Gan, P.Eng. Project Manager Suzette Shiu, P.Eng. Technical Team Steve Molloy, BA Rudy Sooklall, M.A.Sc. December 2007 iTRANS Town of Ajax Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report EXECUTIVE SUMMARY A. Introduction In 2000, the Town of Ajax approved its first Transportation Master Plan (TMP) to address the transportation requirements up to 2021, which coincided with the build-out of Ajax within its urban boundary. With recent legislative changes to growth, regional policy changes and recent development activity within the Town, an update of the TMP was required to address transportation needs for the 2021, 2026 and 2031 horizon years. Since the preparation of the 2000 Master Transportation Study, many key assumptions have changed and new information is available: . Land use assumptions have been updated across Durham Region. Provincial planning initiatives provide the broad planning context for the transportation master plan – Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe and legislation such as the Greenbelt Act 2005 and Places to Grow Act 2005. The 2003 Durham Region Transportation Master Plan which adopts a vision of a balanced road and transit infrastructure investment strategy will provide an overall regional transportation context for Ajax’s transportation master plan. At the provincial level, MTO has carried out transportation planning studies for Central Ontario, which provides a GTA context. iTRANS has had a major role in this recent work for the MTO, in inter-regional transit planning (Transit Protection Study for 400- Series Corridors), HOV planning (HOV Study for Central Ontario), and goods movement (Goods Movement in Central Ontario: Trends and Issues). B. Problem Statement Based on traffic forecasts and analysis of existing and future conditions, the transportation challenges for Ajax are summarized below: . Ajax occupies a central location in Durham Region, and is therefore affected by overall growth in Durham Region. A large portion of traffic on the east-west arterial corridors in Ajax is through traffic originating and/or destined to other municipalities in the Region and the GTA. As the Region and the Town grow, through traffic and traffic generated by Ajax will further increase. Arterial roads in Ajax experience capacity and congestion problems today. Congestion on arterial roads also leads to traffic spilling over onto residential collector roads, raising residents concerns over traffic infiltration, safety, and speeding in residential areas. Rapid population and employment growth are projected for the Town of Ajax. The Town’s population is projected to increase by 52% from 88,800 persons to 135,200 persons in 2031. Employment is projected to increase by 117% from 26,150 jobs to 56,900 jobs in 2031. December 2007 i iTRANS Town of Ajax Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report . Transportation requirements are closely related to economic activity. In economic terms, however, transportation is a “diseconomy” factor, meaning that the increase in cost of transportation is directly related to increases in cost of purchasing goods and services, and is subsequently passed onto consumers. Traffic congestion and delays will negatively affect the Town’s economic well-being and competitiveness. Improved connectivity of pedestrian sidewalks and multi-use pathways are needed to encourage alternative modes of transportation. Despite transit and road improvement strategies developed by the Region of Durham and the Town, there will likely be some ongoing traffic congestion within the Town unless new strategies are developed. Although traffic congestion will not be completely eliminated, it can be managed better. The role and function of Harwood Avenue and Bayly Street through Downtown Ajax is gradually changing from strictly an arterial road function serving commuter through traffic to an urban street serving Downtown Ajax, with characteristics similar to other downtown streets – pedestrian-oriented, lower vehicular speeds, and closer intersection spacings. Environmental sustainability is becoming increasingly important for residents of Ajax – a sustainable transportation system that promotes alternative modes of travel, supports land uses and development that are transit-supportive, and reduces the environmental impacts of transportation users and of transportation facilities. Based on the Problem Statement, we can conclude that the economic well-being of the Town, the provision of transportation choices for the residents of Ajax, and the management of transportation demand and congestion will require a sustainable transportation strategy that integrates transportation and land use planning, and encourages all modes of travel (carpooling, cycling, walking, and public transit). C. Transportation Alternatives Long-term strategic improvement options were considered to address future travel demands within Ajax, to support planning objectives, and to accommodate planned growth as expressed in the Problem Statement. Alternative 1 – “Do Nothing” The “Do Nothing” strategy reflects the current condition of the roadway and transit networks carried over to 2031 without any capacity improvements. There are no expansions or additions to the arterial road network or the Provincial highway system. The transportation network reflects the 2007 status quo. December 2007 ii iTRANS Town of Ajax Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report Alternative 2 – Current Planning Path Alternative 2 is based on the transportation improvements in the Town’s 2007-2011 Capital Works Program, transit recommendations of the Durham Region Transit Improvement Plan (2003) and Transit Service Strategy (2005), the recommendations of the 2003 Durham Region Transportation Master Plan, the Ajax Development Charge (DC) study, and the Capital Projects work plan. The recommendations include extensive roadway and transit infrastructure investments. Alternative 3 – Increase Road Network Capacity Alternative 3 builds upon the planned network in Alternative 2 with added infrastructure to provide additional north-south network capacity at Highway 401 and east-west capacity at Church Street that have been previously identified in other studies or plans. These network additions include, but are not limited to, the Audley Road and Notion Road crossings of Highway 401, Clements Road extension, and the completion of a 4-lane arterial road network. Alternative 4 – Proactive Multi-Modal Strategy The Proactive Multi-modal Strategy includes the public transit improvements listed in Alternative 2 and envisions future road network infrastructure investments with a primary focus on transit and transit-dedicated facilities,Transportation Demand Management, cycling and walking. D. Evaluation of Alternatives The performance and impact of the Transportation Planning Alternatives were evaluated using a consistent set of evaluation criteria. They reflect community goals and objectives, and Regional and Provincial growth objectives. The six evaluation criteria were: 1. Supporting sustainable development, compatibility with Official Plan goals. 2. Providing high level of service on multi-modal transportation network. 3. Socio-economic impact, support for economic development, industry and economic growth. 4. Impact on natural environment and air quality. 5. Public support. 6. Capital cost. Based on the evaluation of the alternatives, the recommended long-term transportation strategy for the Town of Ajax is Alternative 4 Proactive Multi-Modal Strategy. December 2007 iii iTRANS Town of Ajax Transportation Master Plan Update Final Report The key advantages of the preferred alternative are that it offers the best opportunity to: . Support sustainable development and intensification policies . Provide an array of travel choices . Increase transit trips and reduce auto trips . Minimize congestion and the cost of congestion . Promote alternative travel modes and choices . Support goods movement and access to employment areas Although one of the more expensive strategies in terms of capital costs, Alternative 4 is the only option that represents a sustainable, long-term transportation strategy for Ajax. It will manage and reduce the growth in traffic congestion by proactively encouraging travel by other modes and making these other modes (in particular public transit) more attractive. E. Recommended Transportation Plan and Strategy Land Use and Sustainable Design Implementation of the intensification directives and policies set out in the Provincial Growth Plan are the essential prerequisites for changing travel patterns, modal choices and the environmental conservation that are part of the recommended transportation strategy. The Regional TMP recognizes and supports the growth management framework in the Regional OP which promotes a more compact urban form, higher intensity and mixed-use nodes, linkages for pedestrians, cyclists and transit. The Regional TMP recommends the development of a detailed TDM-supportive Land Use Guideline