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HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-085 - Otto St Environmental Assessment1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta 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 10-1 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta 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 io-z 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta 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. 10-3 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta 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, 10-4 1 Staff Re ort p Krr~.~-~~,i~iER ~nfrastru~ture Servrces Department www.kitthenerta 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 10-5