PLANNING, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Transportation Planning

Transcription

1 REGION OF WATERLOO PLANNING, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY SERVICES Transportation Planning TO: Chair Jim Wideman and Members of the Planning and Works Committee DATE: February 1, 2005 FILE CODE: D10-20/CTC SUBJECT: UPDATE ON THE REGION OF WATERLOO RAPID TRANSIT TECHNICAL STUDIES AND ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATION: For information SUMMARY: The Region of Waterloo and Government of Canada are jointly funding various technical studies to determine the best approach for implementation of rapid transit service in Waterloo Region. The Province of Ontario is also jointly funding the Environmental Assessment study for Rapid Transit with the Region. This report provides an update on the status of each of these studies. This initiative is a key component of the Region s Growth Management Strategy that will address future growth challenges and help shape urban form. It is also consistent with Provincial and Federal growth objectives. It is anticipated that the Technical studies will be completed in April of The Terms of Reference for the Environmental Assessment should be ready for submission to the Ministry of Environment by March of The Environmental Assessment can proceed once the Terms of Reference has received approval from the Minister of the Environment. REPORT: Region of Waterloo Council unanimously adopted the Regional Growth Management Strategy (RGMS) on June 25, 2003 to address the future growth challenges facing the Region. This Strategy is anchored on the implementation of Rapid Transit in a visionary approach to community building. It is a holistic approach that intrinsically links the development of transportation infrastructure with the achievement of land use objectives. The RGMS provides a higher level of protection for environmentally sensitive areas and agricultural lands and as well supports development of a compact transit efficient urban form along a planned 30 kilometre Central Transit Corridor linking the three cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. As a result, key Municipal objectives relating to environmental protection, agricultural land preservation, economic competitiveness, reurbanization, social inclusiveness and public health will be achieved. On May 15, 2004, the Government of Canada, the Government of Ontario and the Region of Waterloo jointly announced funding of up to $2.5 million for technical studies and an Environmental Assessment for the Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit project as summarized in the following sections. Page 1 of 5

2 Technical Study Requirements The Federal government is providing 50% funding up to $250,000 for technical studies including: Demonstration of how best to support the relationship between the anticipated urban growth and the transit investment through land use planning and policy instruments; Assessment of various transit options, including Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit, and how each can be integrated with other transportation services; Additional ridership projections for the proposed new transit line including surveys of public views of new transit initiatives and future ridership forecasts. Detailed cost-benefit analysis of the project incorporating scenarios around ridership objectives and land use, and an analysis of alternative transportation investments. Regional Council, on September 29, 2004, approved the hiring of Cansult Limited to undertake the Technical Studies. There was a significant data collection component for this assignment which has now been completed. Specific data included population and employment forecasts, transit and automobile origin destination information and a stated preference survey. The consultant has completed the following components of the work plan and will be reporting to the Project Team on February 3 rd : Stated preference survey and development of a travel forecasting model; Re-urbanization opportunities within the Central Transit Corridor for the Business as Usual, Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit alternatives; Findings and lessons learned from the case studies of seven cities; and Review of the Bus Rapid Transit and Light Rail Transit operating concepts. Tasks that still need to be completed include: Forecasting ridership for each transit alternative; Evaluation of transportation alternatives; Identifying potential land use policy, financial incentives and Transportation Demand Management initiatives; and Update capital and operating cost estimates; Cost-Benefit Analysis. It is expected that these tasks will be completed by the middle of March with a draft report ready by the end of March. Transport Canada has requested that a peer reviewer be retained as part of this process. The peer review team has been retained and consists of the following personnel: 1. Ridership Projections Dr. Eric Miller, University of Toronto 2. Transportation Alternatives Thom Budd, Hatch, Mott, McDonald 3. Land Use Policy, Financial Incentives and Transportation Demand Management Initiatives Bob Lehman, MKI 4. Cost-Benefit Analysis Bob Lehman, MKI Deloitte & Touche will be coordinating the peer review component of the study. After allocating time for the peer reviewer and regional staff to review the draft report, it is anticipated a report will be brought to Planning and Works Committee in April of This revised schedule will not have an impact on the overall timing of the Rapid Transit project Page 2 of 5

3 Individual Environmental Assessment The Provincial government is providing 50% funding up to $1,000,000 for the undertaking of an Environmental Assessment. The purpose of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (EA Act) is the betterment of the people of the whole or any part of Ontario by providing for the protection, conservation and wise management in Ontario of the environment. Environment is applied broadly and includes the natural, social, cultural, built and economic components. The majority of road infrastructure projects undertaken by the Region are subject to compliance with an approved Class EA process. Transit projects of this nature are subject to an Individual EA process that requires a report be submitted to the Ministry of Environment for approval by the Province. Compliance with the Federal Environmental Assessment Act must also be considered for projects requiring Federal Government approval. The first step in satisfying the requirements of the EA Act is to produce a Terms of Reference for the Individual EA. Once completed, the Terms of Reference would be submitted to the Minister of Environment for approval. The Individual EA would then follow the approved Terms of Reference. Regional Council, on June 9, 2004, approved the hiring of IBI Group to develop the Terms of Reference for the Environmental Assessment Study. IBI Group is currently drafting the Terms of Reference in preparation for a five week pre-submission review that will provide agency stakeholders and the public an opportunity to provide comment. A Public Consultation meeting was held on December 8, This introductory Public Consultation Session explained the EA process and the Terms of Reference purpose, and scope the issues and opportunities that will be incorporated into the Terms of Reference, such as the various Alternatives Undertakings and Alternative Methods to be included in the Terms of Reference planning process. The 35 attendees were also asked to provide input on transportation and related issues that should be considered in the EA and addressed through the Terms of Reference. A second Public Consultation Meeting will be held in February/March as part of the pre-submission review. This timing would permit submission of the Terms of Reference to the Ministry of Environment in late March. The Minister of Environment then has a twelve-week period to review and approve the document following which the Individual Environmental Assessment could start. A potential schedule illustrating timing for the subsequent Individual Environmental Assessment is shown in Appendix A. This schedule indicates completion by October of 2006 and is considered to be aggressive. Regional staff are investigating ways to streamline the process, but with regulatory public review periods, it is anticipated completion in the fall of 2006 is the most likely scenario. CORPORATE STRATEGIC PLAN: The implementation of Rapid Transit in the Central Transit Corridor is consistent with the Region s Growth Management Strategy and addresses the Region s goal to provide effective policies that ensure responsible and sustainable growth. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Page 3 of 5

4 The Region s approved 2005 Planning Housing and Community Services 10 Year Capital Forecast includes a total of $1,600,000 in 2005 and $500,000 in 2006 for the technical studies and Environmental Assessment process. The Federal Government will be funding 50% of the cost of the Technical Studies up to a maximum of $250,000, and the Province of Ontario will be funding 50% of the cost of the Environmental Assessment up to a maximum of $1,000,000. OTHER DEPARTMENT CONSULTATIONS/CONCURRENCE: The Transportation and Environmental Services Department and the Legal Services Division will be consulted throughout these studies and are represented on the Project Team. ATTACHMENTS: Appendix A Potential Schedule Individual EA Preparation for Waterloo Region CTC Rapid Transit Initiative PREPARED BY: Graham Vincent, Director, Transportation Planning APPROVED BY: Larry E. Kotseff, Commissioner of Planning, Housing and Community Services Page 4 of 5

5 Appendix A Potential Schedule - Individual EA Preparation for Waterloo Region CTC Rapid Transit Initiative May June July August Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb March April May June July August Sept Oct PHASE 1: PROJECT INITIATION Project Team Mtg #1 - Project Initiation Notice of Study Commencement Data Gathering Detailed Work Plan Detailed Communication Plan Project Team Mtg #2 - Project Scoping Base Mapping Preparation - Route Planning Public Outreach Events PHASE 2: PROJECT RATIONALE Public Event #1 - Technical Study Results/Rationale Project Team Mtg #3 - Evaluation Method/Criteria PHASE 3: ENVIRONMENTAL INVENTORIES Initial Scoping Summer Fall Winter Spring Field Investigations Opportunities & Constraints Analysis PHASE 4: EVALUATION OF ALTERNATIVES Evaluate Alternatives to the Undertaking Project Team Mtg #4 - Confirm Preferred Undertaking Public Event #2 - Preferred Undertaking Screen/Confirm Alternative Methods Project Team Mtg #5 - Confirm Shortlist Methods Evaluate Short-Listed Methods Project Team Mtg #6 - Confirm Preferred Methods Base Map Preparation - Design Municipal Council Presentations - Project Public Event #3 - Preferred Methods PHASE 5: PRELIMINARY DESIGN Alignment Plan & Profile Detailing Station Concept Plans Impact & Mitigation Assessment Regional Design Review Project Team Mtg #7 - Preliminary Design Approval Municipal Council Presentations - Design Public Event #4 - Design PHASE 6: EA REPORT Draft EA Report Preparation Project Team Mtg #8 - Draft EA Report Approval Regional Council Presentation Mediation Period MOE Submission Project Team Meeting Reports Consultation Events 30-Day Public Review 24-Jan-05 Page 5 of 5