Public Report To: Development Services Committee From: Warren Munro, HBA, RPP, Commissioner, Development Services Department Report Number: DS-20-60 Date of Report: June 3, 2020 Date of Meeting: June 8, 2020 Subject: City Comments on Metrolinx’s Draft Environmental Project Report for the New Track and Facilities Project File: B-7000-0020 1.0 Purpose The purpose of this report is to: a) Provide a high level overview of the information contained in Metrolinx’s Draft Environmental Project Report (“Draft E.P.R.”) for the New Track and Facilities Transit Project Assessment Process (T.P.A.P.); b) Highlight the information provided in the Draft E.P.R. that is specific to the work proposed in the City of Oshawa at the Oshawa GO Station at 915 Bloor Street West; and, c) Obtain Council’s approval of City comments on Metrolinx’s Draft E.P.R. for the New Track and Facilities T.P.A.P. Metrolinx has requested that comments on the Draft E.P.R. for the New Track and Facilities T.P.A.P. be submitted by May 29, 2020. However, City staff have confirmed with staff at Metrolinx that the submission of City comments after the requested deadline is acceptable and appropriate, in order that staff’s comments may be considered by the Development Services Committee at its regularly scheduled meeting of June 8, 2020 and submitted to Metrolinx for consideration, followed by the subsequent related resolution of Council. Attachment 1 is a copy of a letter erroneously dated April 27, 2019 and received in May of 2020, from Metrolinx providing a high-level overview of the information in the Draft E.P.R. for the New Track and Facilities Project. Attachment 2 is a copy of the Lakeshore East Corridor Plan, Mile 11.20 to 11.70, showing the conceptual plan for a proposed third track and additional station platform at the existing Oshawa GO Station. 48 Report to Development Services Committee Item: DS-20-60 Meeting Date: June 8, 2020 Page 2 Attachment 3 is a copy of the Lakeshore East Corridor Plan, Mile 11.20 to 11.70, showing the conceptual plan for a proposed third track and additional station platform at the existing Oshawa GO Station, and the underlying Ecological Land Classification. 2.0 Recommendation That the Development Services Committee recommend to City Council: 1. That, pursuant to Report DS-20-60 dated June 3, 2020, the comments contained in Section 5.4 of said Report be endorsed as the City’s comments on Metrolinx’s Draft Environmental Project Report for the New Track and Facilities Transit Project Assessment Process. 2. That staff be authorized to forward a copy of Report DS-20-60 dated June 3, 2020 and any related resolution by the Development Services Committee to Metrolinx for its consideration and to provide a subsequent follow-up once Council has considered this matter. 3.0 Executive Summary Not applicable. 4.0 Input From Other Sources . Region of Durham . Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority 5.0 Analysis 5.1 Purpose of the Draft Environmental Project Report As part of the T.P.A.P. for the New Track and Facilities Project, Metrolinx has circulated the Draft E.P.R. to Indigenous Communities, federal and provincial review agencies, municipalities and Conservation Authorities prior to the Notice of Commencement in order to obtain comments and feedback. The Draft E.P.R. contains information such as: . Project scope and project description; . Baseline environmental conditions; . Impact assessment including recommended mitigation measures and monitoring activities; . Operations and maintenance impacts; . Potential construction impacts along with construction management plans, traffic management plans and net environmental effects; . Overview of consultation process to date; and, . Commitments and work anticipated in future phases. 49 Report to Development Services Committee Item: DS-20-60 Meeting Date: June 8, 2020 Page 3 In terms of the project’s status, Metrolinx is currently concluding the Pre-Planning Phase. This will be followed by the issuance of a Notice of Commencement, finalization of the E.P.R. and the issuance of a Notice of Completion. Once the Notice of Completion is issued, the finalized E.P.R. will be made available for 30 days for review by the public (including property owners), Indigenous Communities, review agencies and other stakeholders. 5.2 Overview of the Draft Environmental Project Report The following is a high level overview of the relevant information found in the Draft E.P.R. concerning Metrolinx’s New Track and Facilities Project, including information related to the work being proposed within the limits of the City of Oshawa. Context The New Track and Facilities T.P.A.P. is part of the Metrolinx On-Corridor Program (“OnCorr”), which is the largest capital project within the GO Expansion Program for the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (“G.T.H.A.”). Metrolinx is expanding its services as part of the GO Expansion Program in terms of both train frequency and availability. The purpose of the GO Expansion Program is to transform the GO Rail network into a comprehensive regional rapid transit network system that provides the expanded mobility the G.T.H.A. needs to accommodate growth and maintain a high quality of life and prosperous economy. Metrolinx’s long-term objective for the program is to provide 15-minute, two-way, all-day rail service. Metrolinx plans to quadruple service and double ridership through this program. Additionally, Metrolinx plans to provide electrified service along several rail corridors. The purpose of the New Track and Facilities T.P.A.P. is to assess the impact of the proposed infrastructure and provide appropriate mitigation measures. New infrastructure being proposed includes: . New tracks within existing Metrolinx rail rights-of-way; . Modifications or upgrades to existing tracks within existing Metrolinx rail rights-of-way; . Three (3) new layover/storage facilities; . New GO Station platforms; . Bridge expansion/modifications; and, . Electrification of a portion of the Richmond Hill GO Rail Corridor. Metrolinx has applied an accelerated 120-day timeline to the T.P.A.P. The following activities were carried out by Metrolinx during the Pre-Planning Phase of the T.P.A.P.: . Collection and documentation of baseline environmental conditions information; . Preparation of the Conceptual Design; . Initial communications and follow-up consultation efforts with Indigenous Communities; . Meetings with stakeholders; . Public Meeting Rounds 1 and 2; 50 Report to Development Services Committee Item: DS-20-60 Meeting Date: June 8, 2020 Page 4 . Pre-submission Circulation of Draft E.P.R.; . Consideration of stakeholder comments received and follow-up efforts; . Impact assessment studies and development of mitigation measures; and, . Preparation of the Draft E.P.R. Following completion of the Pre-Planning Phase, a Notice of Commencement will be issued to initiate the T.P.A.P. Phase, which will involve the following activities: . Issuance of the Notice of Commencement; . Public Consultation; . Meetings with stakeholders (e.g., Review Agencies, Municipalities, Indigenous communities, Utility companies); . Public Meeting Round 3; . Finalization of the E.P.R.; and, . Issuance of the Notice of Completion (within 120-days of Notice of Commencement). Once the Notice of Completion is issued, the finalized E.P.R. will be made available for 30 days for review by the public (including property owners), Indigenous Communities, review agencies and other stakeholders. Following the 30-day review period, the Minister has 35 days to issue one of following three notices: . Proceed with the Project in accordance with the E.P.R.; or . Proceed with the Project in accordance with the E.P.R. subject to conditions; or . Require the proponent to conduct further work and submit a revised E.P.R. Project Scope As part of the GO Expansion Program, Metrolinx has identified various infrastructure requirements to achieve service level targets across the network. The New Track and Facilities T.P.A.P. includes various infrastructure improvements and additions along the following corridors: . Lakeshore East; . Lakeshore West; . Kitchener; . Barrie; . Stouffville; and, . Richmond Hill. For the Lakeshore East corridor, which currently terminates at the existing Oshawa GO Station, the following is proposed: . 3.28 kilometers (2.04 mi.) of new track parallel to existing sections of the mainline; . 23 new switches; . A new platform at the existing Oshawa GO Station; and, . Expansion of the Thickson Road Bridge in Whitby. 51 Report to Development Services Committee Item: DS-20-60 Meeting Date: June 8, 2020 Page 5 No electrification or new layover/storage facilities are proposed along the Lakeshore East corridor through this project. Through the conceptual design process, the need for retaining walls in three locations along the Lakeshore East corridor was identified to reduce property encroachment. None of these retaining walls are planned to be located within Oshawa City limits. However, one retaining wall is planned in Whitby directly adjacent to the Oshawa-Whitby boundary, in order to limit the impact to properties municipally known as 2001 and 2099 Victoria Street East in Whitby. Metrolinx has advised that additional study regarding the new platform proposed at the existing Oshawa GO Station may be required during the detailed design stage, to review and confirm potential environmental impacts as a result of the new station platform as well as ancillary components such as drainage, pedestrian access, and tunnels. A study area buffer of approximately 30 metres (98 ft.) around the proposed infrastructure was applied during the collection of data to establish baseline conditions. The Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment study considered background reports of previous archaeological assessments conducted within 50 metres (164 ft.) of the proposed infrastructure as well as Ontario Archaeological Sites Database (O.A.S.D.) registered archaeological sites within one (1) kilometre (0.621 mi.) of the study area.