Appendix A Open House Display Boards Open House #1 for the 16th Avenue Environmental Assessment Studies Study A: Yonge Street to Woodbine Avenue, and Study B: Woodbine Avenue to York/Durham Line Please sign in Please indicate if you would like to be included on the mailing list. Study Corridor and Study Purpose York Region is undertaking two transportation Environmental Assessment Studies (EA Studies) for improvements to 16th Avenue: • Study A is between Yonge Street and Woodbine Avenue in the Town of Richmond Hill and the City of Markham • Study B is between Woodbine Avenue and York/Durham Line in the City of Markham The two EA Studies will identify possible improvements to 16th Avenue to accommodate the current and future transportation needs of pedestrians, cyclists, transit users and motorists along this corridor. These EA Studies are part of the process to carry out the Region’s Transportation Master Plan and 10-year Roads Construction Program that identify long term road improvements for the 16th Avenue corridor. Purpose of Open House #1 Municipal Class EA Process What is an EA? An Environmental Assessment (EA) is a planning process for municipal infrastructure projects, following Ontario’s Environmental Assessment Act. These Class EA Studies are being conducted in accordance with Schedule ‘C’ of the Municipal Class EA document (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011 and 2015). The five phases of a Class EA are: 1) Identify the problem and/or opportunity 2) Identify and evaluate alternative solutions *We are here!* 3) Identify and evaluate alternative design concepts to the preferred solution 4) Prepare an Environmental Study Report (ESR) 5) Implementation Planning and Policy Context The following key planning documents set the framework for the 16th Avenue EAs study corridor: Provincial Provincial Policy Statement (2014) Places to Grow Act The Big Move – Transforming Transportation in the GTHA York Region Official Plan York Region Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan (2008) Regional Vision 2051 York Region Towards Great Regional Streets (2008) York Region Sustainability Strategy (2007) York Region Transportation Master Plan Update (2016) Town of Richmond Hill Official Plan (2010) City of Markham Official Plan (2014) Municipal Town of Richmond Hill City of Markham Transportation Planning Study (2002) Transportation Master Plan (2006) Town of Richmond Hill City of Markham Cycling Master Plan (2010) Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan Town of Richmond Hill, Yonge and 16th City of Markham Pathways and Trails Master Plan (2009) Key Development Area Secondary Plan LEGEND Natural Environment Transit New Development Road Improvement Active Transportation Economic Development Regional Context and Anticipated Growth Since 1971, York Region’s population has increased nearly seven-fold. Population and employment growth is expected to continue across the Region – road improvements to increase capacity and improve connectivity on the existing road network are important parts of planning for the Region’s future. 16th Avenue plays a key role in York Region’s east-west connectivity. Regional Context and Anticipated Growth York Region’s 2016 Transportation Master Plan (TMP) identified the need for capacity York Region’s 2016 improvements along 16th Avenue to accommodate anticipated growth and to improve overall Transportation Master network connectivity. Improvements to transit, cycling, and pedestrian facilities are also Plan Objectives identified in the Region’s 2016 TMP. 1 – Create a World Class Transit System 2 – Develop a Road Network Fit for the Future 3 – Integrate Active Transportation in Urban Areas 4 – Maximize the Potential of Employment Areas 5 – Make the Last Mile Work The “last mile” refers to the last portion of a trip to a rapid transit station, a carpool lot, school, home, place of employment or entertainment. It refers to ways to make the “last mile” less auto dependent, enabling the use of more sustainable modes of travel. Land Use and Future Development Existing Land Uses and Planned Development Along 16th Avenue: Richmond Hill The proposed developments in the area will substantially increase the future traffic demand on 16th Avenue between Yonge Street and York/Durham Line. A Road Network Fit for the Future Enhancing Person Capacity for All Travel Modes • Regional streets are designed to accommodate a variety of travel modes, including transit vehicles, passenger cars, cyclists, pedestrians and trucks. The Region will review the most effective use of road space over the long term by designing and operating Regional streets to maximize capacity to move people in all modes. • Widening arterial roads from four-lanes to six lanes through the addition of two new Transit/HOV lanes would be implemented in accordance with policy direction from Regional Council. How do People Travel along 16th Avenue Cycling Facilities (Yonge Street to York/Durham Line) Today? Vehicle Facilities Provide cycling infrastructure, bike lanes, Drivers 69% cycle tracks, multi-use trails, paved Optimize person carrying shoulders, or signed routes, with capacity, consider parking, Auto While residents connections to the cycling network access, winter maintenance, Passengers 16% and commuters and goods movement tend to have different travel Pedestrian Facilities Transit Facilities Transit 9% behaviour, the Provide continuous amenities for pedestrians, With development, there is an vast majority sidewalks or multi-use paths, that allow for opportunity to improve or drive. Walking 5% direct connections to public transit, roadways, introduce new transit schools, employment centres, and recreational service/facilities to the community facilities Cycle 1% The above images are created using Streetmix and are subject to the Creative Commons BY-SA 3.0 license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/). Source: Transportation Tomorrow Survey (TTS), 2011 Existing Traffic Issues In the morning peak, traffic: In the afternoon peak, traffic: • Exceeds capacity heading towards Highway 404 starting • Exceeds capacity heading west between Leslie Street and east of Kennedy Road Bayview Avenue • Exceeds capacity heading towards Highway 404 starting • Exceeds capacity heading east between Leslie Street and Highway west of Leslie Street 404 and between Warden Avenue and McCowan Road Existing Traffic Issues PM Peak Capacity Maps: Yonge Street – Woodbine Avenue Bottleneck due to Highway 404 northbound ramp. Eastbound left turns block thru-traffic lanes Woodbine Avenue – McCowan Road Many links over- capacity in the eastbound direction east of Highway 404. McCowan Road – York/Durham Line Generally good traffic flow east of Markham Road (Highway 48) to York/Durham Line. Adequate Capacity (< 85%) As the area surrounding 16th Avenue is predominantly residential, most Approaching Capacity ( 85 to 99%) vehicles originate from Highway 404 during PM peak hour Over Capacity (>100%) Future Traffic Operations By 2041, morning peak traffic: By 2041, afternoon peak traffic: • Exceeds capacity heading towards Highway 404 starting • Exceeds capacity heading west from Woodbine Avenue to east of McCowan Road Yonge Street • Exceeds capacity heading towards Highway 404 starting • Exceeds capacity heading east between Yonge Street and east at Yonge Street of McCowan Road Future Traffic Operations PM Peak Capacity Maps: Yonge Street – Woodbine Avenue By 2041, the segment between Yonge and Hwy 404 experiences significant congestion. Woodbine Avenue – McCowan Road Many links are over-capacity in the eastbound direction east of Highway 404. McCowan Road – York/Durham Line Congestion at major intersections results in some delays between McCowan and 9th Line. Adequate Capacity (< 85%) Approaching Capacity ( 85 to 99%) Over Capacity (>100%) Existing Transit Service and Ridership Buses Current Travel Time From Yonge Street to Ninth Line, it takes : 16 85 85C • 27 minutes, during off-peak hours • 42 minutes, during peak hours Combined Frequency Agencies time between buses on weekdays min during the peak periods ` The Transit Opportunity The York Region TMP recommends that 16th Avenue (Yonge Street to Donald Cousens Parkway) is part of the Frequent Transit Network. This means transit service will run every 15 minutes or less between 6:00AM and 10:00PM, 7-days per week. Major Transit Generators and Ridership What are the opportunities to improve transit on 16th Avenue? • Dedicated Transit/HOV lanes will improve speed and reliability • Queue jump lanes will allow buses to bypass traffic queues • Connections to cycling and pedestrian facilities will minimize overall travel time Pedestrian and Cycling Level of Service Segments and intersections are ranked by their attractiveness to cyclists and pedestrians Pedestrian Experience Cyclist Experience Sidewalks/multi-use paths are Continuous cycling facilities continuous and provided on are provided and separated either side of the road. from vehicles and pedestrians Crosswalks are provided on on either side of the road all four legs of the where traffic volumes and intersection. Shorter crossing speed are high. Cyclists are distances at intersections and accommodated at greater separation from high intersections. speed traffic on sidewalks. Less separation from high Less separation from high speed traffic, greater conflicts speed traffic, narrower at intersections with turning sidewalks, longer crossings vehicles. with more conflict points with turning vehicles No designated pedestrian facility and/or limited or no No designated cycling facility separation