PROPOSED HIGHWAY 417 CARLING AVENUE E-E ON-RAMP CLOSURE, DETAIL DESIGN WP 4255-15-01 CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR PROVINCIAL TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES GROUP ‘B’ PROJECT MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION EASTERN REGION TRANSPORTATION ENVIRONMENTAL STUDY REPORT April 2017 Proposed Highway 417 Carling Avenue E-E On-Ramp Closure, Detail Design CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT FOR PROVINCIAL TRANSPORTATION FACILITIES (2000) GROUP ‘B’ PROJECT Ministry of Transportation Eastern Region WP 4255-15-01 Prepared for the Ministry of Transportation by: MMM Group Limited, a WSP company Prepared by: Reviewed by: Anita Sott, MCIP, RPP Nadia Diczki, P.Eng. Environmental Planner Design Manager WSP | MMM WSP | MMM Lincoln MacDonald, P.Eng. Project Manager WSP | MMM Proposed Highway 417 Carling Avenue E-E On-Ramp Closure Transportation Environmental Study Report (W.P. 4255-15-01) THE PUBLIC RECORD A copy of this Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) is available for review online at the project website at www.highway417carlinge-eramp.com and at the following locations: City of Ottawa Ottawa Public Library Client Service Centre, City Hall Carlingwood Branch 110 Laurier Avenue West 281 Woodroffe Avenue Ottawa, ON K1P 1J1 Ottawa, ON K2A 3W4 Monday to Friday: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Friday: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Ottawa Public Library Alexander Community Centre Rosemount Branch 960 Silver Street 18 Rosemount Avenue Ottawa, ON K1Z 6H5 Ottawa, ON K1Y 1P4 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday: 10:00 am – 9:00 pm Tuesday to Thursday: 10:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday: 9:00 am – 9:30 pm Friday: 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Friday: 10:00 am – 8:00 pm Saturday: 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm Ce document hautement spécialisé n’est disponible qu’en anglais en vertu du règlement 671/92, qui en exempte l’application de la Loi sur les services en français. Pour de l’aide en français, veuillez communiquer avec Heather Edwardson, ministère des Transports, au 905 704-2210. April 2017 i Proposed Highway 417 Carling Avenue E-E On-Ramp Closure Transportation Environmental Study Report (W.P. 4255-15-01) TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 OVERVIEW OF UNDERTAKING ........................................................................................ 1 1.1 PROJECT SUMMARY .......................................................................................................................... 1 1.1.1 Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2 Background – Preliminary Design & Environmental Assessment Study .................................. 2 1.1.3 Project Need and Justification – Detail Design & Environmental Assessment Study .............. 4 1.1.4 Consultation .............................................................................................................................. 5 1.1.5 Existing Environmental Conditions ............................................................................................ 5 1.1.6 Generation and Evaluation of Detail Design Alternatives ......................................................... 6 1.1.7 Detail Design Recommended Plan – General Description of the Undertaking ........................ 7 1.1.8 Potential Environmental Effects and Proposed Mitigation ........................................................ 7 1.1.9 Purpose of the Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR) ....................................... 8 2 ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS .................................................................10 2.1 THE ONTARIO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT ACT (OEAA) ............................................................ 10 2.2 CONSULTATION PROCESS ............................................................................................................... 13 2.2.1 Study Contact List ................................................................................................................... 13 2.2.2 Project Website ....................................................................................................................... 15 2.2.3 Study Commencement and Public Information Centres ......................................................... 15 2.2.4 TESR Submission ................................................................................................................... 22 2.2.5 Comments Received ............................................................................................................... 22 3 EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS ....................................................................70 3.1 NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................................. 70 3.1.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 70 3.1.2 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................. 71 3.2 SOCIAL / ECONOMIC ENVIRONMENT ................................................................................................. 75 3.2.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 75 3.2.2 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................. 76 3.3 CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................................... 83 3.3.1 Methodology ............................................................................................................................ 83 3.3.2 Existing Conditions .................................................................................................................. 83 4 PROJECT NEEDS ASSESSMENT AND JUSTIFICATION ................................................84 4.1 PROBLEM / OPPORTUNITY STATEMENT ............................................................................................ 84 4.1.1 Existing Conditions at the Carling Avenue W-E and E-E On-ramps ....................................... 84 4.1.2 Future Conditions at the Carling Avenue W-E and E-E On-ramps After Highway Widening – Operational and Safety Issues ............................................................................................................. 85 4.1.3 Proposed Ramp Conditions .................................................................................................... 86 4.2 ALTERNATIVES TO THE UNDERTAKING ............................................................................................. 86 4.2.1 The ‘Do Nothing’ Alternative ................................................................................................... 87 4.2.2 Transportation Demand Management & New and/or Improved Air, Rail, Transit, and Water Based Alternatives ............................................................................................................................... 87 4.2.3 New and/or Improved Municipal and Private Roads ............................................................... 87 4.2.4 New and/or Improved Provincial Transportation Facilities ...................................................... 88 5 GENERATION AND EVALUATION OF DESIGN ALTERNATIVES ...................................89 April 2017 ii Proposed Highway 417 Carling Avenue E-E On-Ramp Closure Transportation Environmental Study Report (W.P. 4255-15-01) 5.1 DESIGN ALTERNATIVES FOR THE W-E AND E-E ON-RAMPS .............................................................. 89 5.1.1 Generation of Design Alternatives .......................................................................................... 89 5.1.2 Evaluation of Design Alternatives Methodology ...................................................................... 90 5.1.4 Description of Design Alternatives .......................................................................................... 92 5.2 EVALUATION OF DESIGN ALTERNATIVES ........................................................................................ 102 6 DETAIL DESIGN RECOMMENDED PLAN ...................................................................... 106 6.1 FEATURES OF THE RECOMMENDED PLAN ....................................................................................... 106 6.1.1 Carling Avenue E-E On-ramp Closure .................................................................................. 107 6.1.2 City Intersection Improvements ............................................................................................. 107 6.1.3 Signage ................................................................................................................................. 123 6.1.4 Illumination ............................................................................................................................ 123 6.1.5 Utilities ................................................................................................................................... 123 6.1.6 Property ................................................................................................................................. 124 6.1.7 Context Sensitive Design ...................................................................................................... 124 6.1.8 Landscape Plan....................................................................................................................