Rapid Transit Initiative Phase 2 Summary Report – Environmental Assessment Study September 24, 2009 in association with Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Initiative Phase 2 Summary Report – Environmental Assessment Study September 24, 2009 Document Control Version History Version Date Change 0.1-Draft May 8, 2009 Preliminary Draft 1.0 September 24, 2009 Final Revision and Approval Control of Last Version Task Responsibility Position Date Preparation Doug Willoughby AECOM September 24, 2009 Project Manager Katie Harvey AECOM Designer - Transportation Revision Darshpreet Singh Region of Waterloo July 14, 2009 Bhatti Senior Project Manager Rapid Transit Initiative David Durant Region of Waterloo Senior Project Manager Rapid Transit Initiative Approval in association with Page i Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Initiative Phase 2 Summary Report – Environmental Assessment Study September 24, 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS 6.2.5. OTTAWA STREET (CHARLES STREET EAST TO MILL STREET) .................................................. 83 6.2.6. CNR HURON PARK SUBDIVISION (OTTAWA STREET SOUTH TO HAYWARD AVENUE) ........... 83 1.0 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................. 1 6.2.7. COURTLAND AVENUE ....................................................................................................................... 83 1.1. ONTARIO ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOLLOWED .................................................... 1 6.2.8. HYDRO CORRIDOR – FAIRWAY ROAD ROUTE OPTIONS ............................................................. 83 1.2. FEDERAL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PROCESS FOLLOWED .................................................... 2 6.3. THE ADAPTED BRT SYSTEM ................................................................................................................... 83 1.3. DESCRIPTION OF THE UNDERTAKING .................................................................................................... 2 6.3.1. HIGHWAY 8 AND HIGHWAY 401 ....................................................................................................... 84 1.4. BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF STUDIES UNDERTAKEN ................................................................ 2 6.3.2. HESPELER ROAD TO WATER STREET ........................................................................................... 84 1.4.1. PLACES TO GROW – GROWTH PLAN FOR THE GREATER GOLDEN HORSESHOE .................... 2 6.3.3. WATER STREET (DOWNTOWN CAMBRIDGE – GALT) ................................................................... 84 1.4.2. REGIONAL GROWTH MANAGEMENT STRATEGY ............................................................................ 2 6.4. PARK AND RIDE ........................................................................................................................................ 84 1.4.3. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION MASTER PLAN ................................................................................ 3 6.5. STRUCTURES ........................................................................................................................................... 85 1.4.4. OTHER REGIONAL INITIATIVES SUPPORTIVE OF THE RAPID TRANSIT INITIATIVE ................... 3 1.4.5. PROJECT SPECIFIC STUDIES ............................................................................................................. 4 7.0 IMPACT ASSESSMENT AND MITIGATION MEASURES FOR THE PREFERRED RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM ......................................................................................................................................................................... 85 2.0 PURPOSE OF THE RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT .............................................................................................. 5 7.1. TRANSPORTATION ................................................................................................................................... 86 7.1.1. PROPERTY .......................................................................................................................................... 86 3.0 THE PREFERRED TRANSPORTATION SOLUTION FOR WATERLOO REGION .......................................... 5 7.1.2. TRANSIT AND TRAFFIC OPERATIONS ............................................................................................ 86 7.2. SOCIAL / CULTURAL ENVIRONMENT ..................................................................................................... 87 4.0 DESCRIPTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT POTENTIALLY AFFECTED ............................................................ 6 7.2.1. RAPID TRANSIT NOISE ...................................................................................................................... 87 4.1. DESCRIPTION OF THE STUDY AREA ....................................................................................................... 6 7.2.2. CONSTRUCTION NOISE .................................................................................................................... 88 4.2. EXISTING ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS .............................................................................................. 6 7.2.3. VIBRATION .......................................................................................................................................... 88 4.2.1. EXISTING BUILT ENVIRONMENT ........................................................................................................ 6 7.2.4. CONSTRUCTION VIBRATION ............................................................................................................ 89 4.2.2. EXISTING NATURAL ENVIRONMENT ............................................................................................... 11 7.3. NATURAL ENVIRONMENT........................................................................................................................ 90 5.0 PHASE 2: ALTERNATIVE DESIGN METHODS CONSIDERED ..................................................................... 12 7.3.1. STORMWATER.................................................................................................................................... 90 5.1. PHASE 2 STEP 1: IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVE TRANSIT 7.3.2. ECOLOGICAL ...................................................................................................................................... 90 TECHNOLOGIES AND ROUTE DESIGNS ................................................................................................ 12 7.3.3. AIR QUALITY ....................................................................................................................................... 91 5.1.1. IDENTIFICATION OF ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES .................................................................... 12 7.3.4. MINERAL AGGREGATE RESOURCES .............................................................................................. 92 5.1.2. IDENTIFICATION OF ROUTE DESIGNS ............................................................................................ 13 8.0 MONITORING AND FUTURE COMMITMENTS .............................................................................................. 92 5.1.3. CRITERIA FOR SCREENING OF TRANSIT TECHNOLOGIES AND ROUTE DESIGNS .................. 13 5.1.4. EVALUATION OF TRANSIT TECHNOLOGIES ................................................................................... 14 9.0 OTHER APPROVALS REQUIRED .................................................................................................................. 92 5.1.5. EVALUATION OF ROUTE DESIGNS .................................................................................................. 17 9.1. MUNICIPAL APPROVALS.......................................................................................................................... 92 5.1.6. SUMMARY OF TECHNOLOGY AND ROUTE DESIGN SCREENING ............................................... 17 9.2. PROVINCIAL APPROVALS ....................................................................................................................... 92 5.2. PHASE 2 STEP 2: IDENTIFICATION AND EVALUATION OF ROUTE SEGMENT 9.3. FEDERAL APPROVALS ............................................................................................................................. 93 ALTERNATIVES AND THE APPROPRIATE RAPID TRANSIT TECHNOLOGY ....................................... 18 5.2.1. THE ROUTE SEGMENTS AND STATION LOCATIONS .................................................................... 18 10.0 CONSULTATION UNDERTAKEN DURING PHASE 2 OF THE EA ............................................................... 93 5.2.2. EVALUATION OF THE ALTERNATIVE ROUTES AND TECHNOLOGIES ........................................ 19 10.1. ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT CONSULTATION FRAMEWORK ..................................................... 93 5.2.3. COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF STATION LOCATIONS, ALTERNATIVE TECHNOLOGIES 10.1.1. PHASE 2 PUBLIC CONSULTATION ................................................................................................... 93 AND ROUTES ...................................................................................................................................... 23 10.2. CONSULTATION ON PHASE 2, STEP 1 ................................................................................................... 94 5.2.4. RANKING OF THE ROUTE AND TECHNOLOGY ALTERNATIVES .................................................. 33