1. NGTA Halton Planning and Public Works Committee
Niagara to GTA Corridor Planning and EA Study – Phase 1
Halton Planning and Public Works Committee
July 4, 2012

2. Study Area

3. Overview of EA Study Process
Individual Environmental Assessment
EA Terms of Reference
EA Phase 1
Selection of System Alternatives
EA Phase 2
Class EA for Design
Construction
System Planning
(e.g. roads, transit, rail, marine, air)
Alternative Methods
(e.g. route location for new provincial highways / transitways)
MOE Review / Approval
Alternatives to be pursued by other jurisdictions
MOE Review / Approval
years
3 - 5 years
2 - 3 years
Approx. Timeline
5 - 10years

4. Study Context The status quo is not an option
There will be more than 1.2 million additional passenger and commercial vehicle trips per day in the NGTA study area by 2031
Transit is an important part of the solution, and it is assumed that plans and investment in transit over the next 20 years will result in an additional 700 million transit trips being accommodated in the GTHA by 2031
However, we cannot assume that those coming to the region will travel exclusively by bus or rail
Those involved in moving goods agree that while there is a role for every mode, transport by truck is and will remain dominant
New highway capacity is required
The NGTA study team is conducting a more in-depth exploration of highway expansion options. This will involve:
Assessing the relative merits of widening key highways such as Highway 403 and the QEW to determine if this option is preferable to constructing a new highway corridor
Considering a wide range of criteria and factor areas — from transportation performance, to natural and cultural environments, to social and community impacts, to agriculture, to costs and the economy

5. Optimization & Non-Roadway Improvements
The innovative ‘building block’ approach looked first at how best to use existing transportation facilities and expand transit/non-roadway infrastructure
The draft Strategy is based on full implementation of the RTP by Metrolinx and GO 2020 Strategic Plan, and includes other recommendations such as:
Adjustable speed limits (speed harmonization)
Transit use of highway shoulders to bypass congestion
Reversible (contra-flow) lanes and moveable barriers
Hamilton focused inter-regional transit study
Initiatives that support freight rail
Optimization and non-roadway improvements are a core part of the Strategy, but the focus of the additional analysis will be on the roadway elements

6. The Three Sub-Areas

7. West Area Analysis
Concern with recommendation to construct a new corridor connecting Highway 403 to the 407 ETR:
Assessment of the alternatives has been undertaken at too broad of a level, without adequate quantification of the impacts
The primary objective is more focused analysis based on more refined corridors to identify and assess more specific impacts
The work will generally involve:
Identifying new corridor alternatives connecting to Highway 401, 407 ETR, and other highways (e.g. Highway 6)
Development of a conceptual plan for widening existing highways
Identification of a preferred new corridor alternative and a preferred widening alternative, followed by evaluation to identify the preferred alternative overall
The overall preferred alternative, will form the basis for Phase 2:
Individual EA if the preferred alternative is a new corridor
Class EA if the preferred alternative involves widening of existing highways

8. West Area Corridor Alternatives

9. Central Area Analysis
Concern with recommendation to widen the QEW over a new corridor:
Insufficient emphasis on the economic “enabler” benefits associated with a new highway corridor
A planning horizon of 2031 is not long enough
Future freight forecasts are understated
A staged process will be undertaken:
Stage One:
Review 8-lane cross-section recommendation for QEW (6 general purpose + 2 HOV)
Confirm residual capacity of this cross-section
How far beyond 2031 will this cross-section provide adequate capacity?
Consider both commuter peak period and summer congestion in this assessment
Stage Two (If Necessary):
If residual capacity is anticipated to be exceeded soon after 2031:
Additional alternatives will be generated, assessed and evaluated
These will include a 10-lane cross-section on QEW as well as new highway corridors

10. Central Area Corridor Alternatives
In the Central Area:
A staged approach will be undertaken.  Initially, the residual capacity of an 8 lane cross-section on QEW will be assessed.  If it is determined that the capacity of this cross-section will be exceeded soon after 2031, the Project Team will review other alternatives, including a 10 lane cross-section on QEW and new highway corridors

11. East Area Analysis
The focus will be on identifying a more refined study area for a new provincial transportation corridor in the East Area
The work will generally involve:
Reviewing Niagara Region’s study for an east-west arterial road to determine relevance to the NGTA study
Identifying required improvements to QEW and Highway 406 for each of the corridor alternatives to include within the overall assessment
Assessing and evaluating the new corridor alternatives to identify a more refined study area for Phase 2
Ongoing coordination with Niagara Region will be undertaken so that NGTA solutions are consistent with the transportation and land use planning objectives of Niagara Region

12. East Area Corridor Alternatives

13. Next Steps
Incorporate feedback from consultation on new highway and highway widening options
Assessment and evaluation of new highway and highway widening options
Present updated Strategy at PIC #5 (Fall 2012)
Finalize Strategy (late 2012 / early 2013)