HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-085 - Otto St Environmental Assessment1
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REPORT T0: Community & Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: November 28, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: Steve Allen, Manager, Engineering Design and Approvals
519-741-2584
PREPARED BY: Sharon Daniel, Design & Construction Project Manager
(519-741-3400 x 3030)
WARD(S) INVOLVED: 10
DATE OF REPORT: November 17, 2011
REPORT NO.: INS 11-085
SUBJECT: Otto Street Extension - SCHEDULE B CLASS
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Otto Street extension Schedule B Class Environmental Study Report (ESR) prepared
by the IBI Group dated November 2011 be received; and further;
THAT the Otto Street extension Schedule B Class Environmental Study Report (ESR) be filed
with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for the mandatory thirty (30) day review period as
required by the Environmental Assessment Act.
BACKGROUND:
As part of the City of Kitchener's ongoing efforts to improve the transportation networkwithin the
downtown area and upgrade infrastructure which has reached the end of its useful life, the City
wishes to extend Otto Street by incorporating and realigning the existing Otto Street right-of-way
and the current laneway to Queen Street. Otto Street currently runs from Fredrick Street to
approximate 144m west of the Otto Street-Frederick Street intersection and ends in a bulb in
front of Centre in the Square. From that bulb to Queen Street is a laneway which is not an
official City of Kitchener public right-of-way. The intent is to open a complete public roadway
between Frederick Street and Queen Street North in order to improve connectivity. Expansion to
the Kitchener Public Library, new parking lot and Centre in the Square will result in an increase
of traffic flow to this area and a need to improve traffic flow. Extending Otto Street will enable
the better control and maintenance of Otto Street, ensure safer and smoother flow of traffic and
will balance the demands of vehicular trafficwith an effort to make the area more walkable and
safe for pedestrians
In addition to the above, the surface works on Otto Street and the laneway have deteriorated
and requires full surface replacement. Infrastructure upgrades, including complete surface
restoration to current City standards, have been considered as part of the study. The surface
reconstruction will also include installation of new curb and gutter, replacement of the asphalt
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roadway, the installation of new sidewalk and connections to neighbouring points of interest.
Additional elements to be reviewed during the design include associated storm sewer,
streetscaping features such as improved lighting, landscaping sidewalk linksl crossings to and
from points of interest (new garage, Centre in the Square, The Kitchener Public library) and
public art.
To facilitate this need, the City initiated a Schedule B Class Environmental Assessment in order
to ensure public participation. In March 2011, the City retained IBI Group to complete a
Schedule "B" Class Environmental Assessment (EA} in order to evaluate alternatives and their
affects on the surrounding environment in order to provide a preferred preliminary design for
Otto Street improvements that adheres to the vision presented in the Civic District Vision and
Master Plan, addresses the need to upgrade current infrastructure conditions, includes input
from the surrounding community and incorporates the expansion occurring in the surrounding
community.
The Schedule "B" Class EA was undertaken in accordance with Municipal Engineers
Association document, October 2000, as amended in 2007. The Class EA process included
consultation with the public, agencies and stakeholders through the issuance of a Notice of
Commencement, the development and regular updating of a contact list and two Public
Information Centres (PIC} to present the findings and receive comments.
The proposed extension to Otto Street will have two lanes, a centre median, concrete curb and
gutter and sidewalks while keeping access to the parking lots along it.
It is expected that the construction will begin in Spring 2012 and completed by August 2012.
REPORT:
During the Class EA process the following options were evaluated, with technical, natural
environmental, social, and economic aspects being considered. Initially six alternatives were
presented at the first PIC, from which it was narrowed down to three alternatives based on input
from internal staff, stakeholders and public.
The alternatives were:
Alternative 1- Do Nothing
The Do Nothing alternative is a standard consideration for all Class EA projects where the
existing conditions are left as is, and no further analysis orwork is done.
In this case, the Do-Nothing alternative does not provide for the planned expansion of the
Centre in the Square which is proposed to extend into the existing laneway and sanitary sewer.
Keeping the existing island at the end of the Otto Street right-of-way will discourage traffic flow,
create maintenance issues and interfere with access to the KPL garage.
Alterative 2 -Extension of Ofto Street wifhout Medians
Alterative 3 -Extension of Ofto Street wifh Medians
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Alternatives 2 and 3 are similar in nature except for the introduction of a median in Alternative 3
and therefore a wider right of way.
In both the abovementioned alternatives, the following is proposed:
• The removal of the current landscaped island and the extension of the roadway to Queen
Street
• The realignment and reconstruction of the current Otto Street to current City standards
(3.5m through lanes, 3.Om left hand turning lanes, curb and gutter and 2.1 m curbface
sidewalks)
• Realignment and reconstruction of the "laneway" portion of the roadway and sanitary sewer
to current City standards and to accommodate the proposed Centre in the Square
expansion
• Establishment of a wide promenade in front of the Centre in the Square to allow for easier
and safer pedestrian movement and gathering before and after performances
• Continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street to create safe links to the existing transit
network and Suddaby School
• A defined pedestrian crossing linking the KPL Garage to the Centre in the Square
• A 12m long lay-by for car and bus drop-offs and pickups
The preferred alternative -Alternative 3 -extension of Otto Street with Medians
The benefits of alternative 2 and alternative 3 are similar in nature and although the economic
cost of alternative 3 is estimated to be higher than alternative 2 and more property is required,
alternative 3 provides a more pedestrian oriented corridor that fits within the surrounding area.
The extension of Otto Street from Frederick to Queen Street provides better traffic flow within
the study area as well as ease of access to Civic Square and the surrounding properties. The
addition of medians within the proposed right-of-way help serve as traffic calming measures and
could deter traffic from using the extended Otto Street right-of-way as a through street creating
a pedestrian friendly area that will help to focus the area as a gathering point while still
maintaining the desired improvements to traffic flow.
A formalized crossing has been provided from the new Kitchener Public Library parking garage
to the Centre in the Square with medians providing a stopping point between directions of traffic
to afford safer crossings of the street. Plantings within the median will help to offset the loss of
trees as a result of the wider cross-section. The greenspace within the roadway help to break
surface of the road and provide a more aesthetically pleasing view while still providing lane
widths to accommodate the maintenance vehicles used to clear snow. The medians provide for
the vision of the Otto Street corridor outlined in the Civic District Vision and Master Plan that has
already been endorsed by Council.
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FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
This project was identified in the City's 2011 Capital Project list. The estimated cost for the
preferred Alternative 3 would be approximately $610,000.00 which includes extension and
realignment of Otto Street into a two lane public right of way with a landscaped center median
and left hand turn lanes at both intersections -Frederick Street and Otto Street, and Queen
Street N and Otto Street. Full funding has been included in the 2012 Capital budget.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
As part of the Class EA process Notices of study commencement (April 14, 2011) and Notice of
public information centres were published in the newspaper, The Record. Two public
information centres (PICs) were conducted. The 1St PIC was on May 24, 2011 and the 2nd PIC
was on October 26, 2011. At the first PIC, study findings and conceptual alternatives were
presented, and comments from the public and agencies were obtained. The following details
were presented at the PICs:
Class EA process
• Background
• Purpose statement
• Alternative solutions
• Evaluation criteria of Alternative solutions
• Preferred alternative
Cost estimate
• Project Schedule
• Next steps
• Frequently asked Questions with regards to the EA process and how the public can
involved with the process
Comment Sheet
In addition to these notices a number of meetings were held with the staff from Centre in the
Square, Canada Revenue Agency and other stakeholders. Emails and phone conversations
were had with the public to discuss various alternatives and their concerns.
Input from various internal departments, external stakeholders and the public were taken into
consideration when selecting the preferred alternative.
CONCLUSION:
The current official Otto Street and laneway from Otto Street to Queen Street does not provide
for safe and smooth traffic flow, pedestrian friendly street, consideration of the proposed
expansion of Centre in the Square and is not in keeping with the Council endorsed Civic District
Vision and Master Plan.
Staff is recommending the proposed Alternative 3 design which includes the addition of medians
provides for better traffic flow in the surrounding community, provides safe pedestrian linkages,
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accommodates for future expansion of the Center in the Square and fits within the vision of
surrounding neighbourhood.
Therefore Staff recommends that the extension to Otto Street Schedule B Class Environmental
Assessment Report be filed with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment for the mandatory thirty
(30) day review period as required by the Environmental Assessment Act.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO
Infrastructure Services Department
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