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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDTS-08-001 - Hanson Ave Extension - Environmental AssessmentT~HE~E Development & Technical Services REPORT Report To: Development and Technical Services Committee Date of Meeting: 2008 January 07 Submitted By: John McBride, Director of Transportation Planning Prepared By: Ken Carmichael, Supervisor of Traffic and Parking Ward(s) Involved: Fairview-Gateway Ward 3 Date of Report: 2007 December 19 Report No.: DTS-08-001 Subject: HANSON AVENUE EXTENSION -ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: That the recommendations of the Hanson Avenue Extension Hayward Avenue to Block Line Road) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study Report be accepted; and That Council allow the Hanson Avenue Extension Hayward Avenue to Block Line Road) Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study Report be submitted to the Ontario Ministry of Environment for the mandatory thirty X30) day review period as required by the Environmental Assessment Act; and further; That, following the thirty X30) day mandatory review period and Ontario Ministry of Environment acceptance of the study, implementation of the recommendations of the Study be allowed to proceed. BACKGROUND: A Schedule `B' Class Environmental Assessment Study was initiated for Hanson Avenue to develop the extension of Hanson Avenue from its present easterly terminus, east of Hayward Avenue, to the newly extended Block Line Road, to be extended from its present northerly terminus at Hanover Street. This extension is recommended to serve as the main traffic access to the new Hanson Twin Pad arena site, Peter Hallman Ball Yard, as well as improving access to St Mary's High School, along with the existing commercial and industrial uses in this area. Through the execution of a business case for the new Twin Pad Arena on Hanson Avenue, initiated in June, 2006, the need for improved accessibility to/from this site was recognized. As a result, a Neighbourhood Connectivity Study was recommended and executed. This study, completed in November, 2006, recommended the extension of Hanson Avenue easterly to Block Line Road in order to provide improved vehicular and pedestrian /cycling access to/from the site. Additionally, a Schedule `C' Class Environmental Assessment Study was completed in 2001 for the extension of Block Line Road north of Homer Watson Boulevard, connecting to Courtland Avenue between Shelley Drive and Hillmount Street. From this, Block Line Road was extended in 2003 northerly to Hanover Street, which serves as the main vehicular access to St Mary's High School. As a part of completing the Hanson Avenue project, Block Line Road will be extended northerly from Hanover Street to the proposed new alignment of the proposed Hanson Avenue extension in 2008. Completion of connecting Block Line Road to Courtland Avenue is scheduled for 2008 - 2009. REPORT Hanson Avenue is designated as a major collector roadway and currently terminates as a public roadway east of Hayward Avenue. Both Hanson Avenue and Hayward Avenue provide a means of access to the commercial and industrial uses in this area, as well as providing an additional connection between Homer Watson Boulevard and Courtland Avenue. Extending easterly from the dead end portion of Hanson Avenue exists a private driveway, providing secondary access to/from St Mary's High School and its associated vehicular traffic and transit service. The recent approval and impending development of the new Twin Pad facility has necessitated that Hanson Avenue be extended as a public roadway through to Block Line Road. In early, 2007, The Walter Fedy Partnership was retained by the City of Kitchener to execute a Class `B' Environmental Assessment (EA) for the extension of Hanson Avenue. In the interests of ensuring EA and construction completion meeting the opening of the new Twin Pad Arena, The Walter Fedy Partnership were later retained, through report DTS-07-107, to also execute the detailed design and construction administration phases of this project. In order to determine the most effective alignment for the extension of Hanson Avenue, a number of alternatives were developed. These alternatives, which can viewed in Appendix A - Hanson Avenue Extension Alternatives, include: Alternative 1 - Do Nothing As legislated by the Environmental Assessment Act, a "Do Nothing" alternative must be considered. This alternative provides baseline conditions to compare other alternatives to. Alternative 2A -Extension of Hanson Avenue along the current alignment of the existing St Mary's High School driveway to Hanover Street. Sidewalks would be constructed/reconstructed on one side in approximately their original location. An asphalt trail is being considered along the east side to integrate with the proposed Trans Canada Trail. Alternative 26 -Extension of Hanson Avenue along the current alignment of the existing St Mary's High School driveway to connect to the future alignment of Block Line Road east of Hanover Street at approximately the location of the existing bus turnaround. Sidewalks would be constructed/reconstructed on one side in approximately their original location. An asphalt trail is being considered along the east side to integrate with the proposed Trans Canada Trail. Alternative 2C -Extension of Hanson Avenue along the current alignment of the existing St Mary's High School driveway to connect to the future alignment of Block Line Road east of Hanover Street approximately 100 m northeast of the existing bus turnaround. Sidewalks would be constructed/reconstructed on one side in approximately their original location. An asphalt trail is being considered along the east side to integrate with the proposed Trans Canada Trail. 2 Alternative 3 -Extension of Hanson Avenue along the St Mary's High School /Twin Pad Arena property line to Homer Watson Boulevard. Alternative 3 is considered not technically feasible as the Region of Waterloo will not permit the provision of an additional intersecting roadway connecting to Homer Watson Boulevard. The alternatives were evaluated through a number of Transportation, Social Environmental, Natural Environmental and Economic Environment factors, with a general overview outlined below in Figure 1 -Evaluation of Alternative Design Concepts For Hanson Avenue. Figure 1-Evaluation of Alternative Design Concepts For Hanson Avenue Alternative Alternative Alternative Alternative Alternative Criteria Group 1 2A 2B 2C 3 Transportation Poor Fair to Poor Fair Good Not Technically Feasible Social Poor Poor Fair to Poor Good Not Environment Technically Feasible Natural Good Good Good Fair to Good Not Environment Technically Feasible Economic Good Fair Fair Poor Not Environment Technically Feasible Overall Poor Fair to Poor Fair to Poor Good Not Evaluation Technically Feasible Based on this evaluation, along with input received from the public, Alternative 2C is considered to be the preferred alternative for the proposed alignment of the extension of Hanson Avenue. This alternative best addresses the need for the new roadway extension, maximizing the positive effects, while minimizing the negative impacts. Alternative 2C provides the most direct routing for the extension of Hanson Avenue to Block Line Road, maintaining maximum separation from St Mary's High School and its significant pedestrian traffic. This preferred alternative also separates non-school, area-destined traffic from on-site traffic and pedestrian operations on the St Mary's High School site, while having a minimal impact on the GRCA flood plain. 3 This preferred alternative was presented to the area businesses /residents through a Public Information Centre (PIC}, held November 8, 2007 at the Kitchener Public Library, Country Hills Branch, located at 1500 Block Line Road. In addition to this PIC, public notification of this project and its process has been provided through direct mailings and newspaper advertisements. It is from these points of contact that the public's input has been incorporated into the process. Public input received at the Public Information Centre indicated support for the preferred alternative. Therefore, it is recommended that Alternative 2C be approved for the new alignment of the extension of Hanson Avenue. Be advised that, through Council's approval of report CSD-07-098 on November 13, 2007, Hanson Avenue and its new extension, between Hayward Avenue and Block Line Road, will be named "Lennox Lewis Way". Assuming Council approval of Alternative 2C, this Class Environmental Assessment Study must be registered with the Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MOE}, as well as be accessible to the public by posting the final study report and recommendations fora 30 day review period. Upon completion of these requirements and assuming that no request to review this project is submitted, it is recommended that the City of Kitchener proceed with the development of the extension of Hanson Avenue. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS: Funding in the amount of $800,000 has been included in the City's Capital Budget for 2008 for the development of the extension of Hanson Avenue. Additionally, the amount of $907,595 has been included in the 2008 Capital Budget for the construction of the extension of Block Line Road from Hanover Street to the proposed Hanson Avenue extension. Payment for consultant services is included in these budget amounts. COMMUNICATIONS: As legislated by the Environmental Assessment Act, public notification for this project has included: Direct mail-outs to area businesses, residents and property owners. Newspaper advertisement at the project's initiation and Public Information Centre stage. The Public Information Centre provided the public with an opportunity to view and comment on the preferred alternative, along with the other alternatives considered. The direct mail-outs, along with the newspaper advertisement advising the public of the project start and the Public Information Centre, provided a project overview, as well as contact names and information for those interested. 4 CONCLUSION: The new development of the Twin Pad Arena on Hanson Avenue has necessitated the extension of Hanson Avenue easterly to Block Line Road. The Class `B" Environmental Assessment Study for this road extension has determined that Alternative 2C, where the new Hanson Avenue right-of-way is separated from St Mary's High School property, provides most technically sound solution to this issue. This new roadway extension will increase traffic wayfinding options and will better serve the area's developments such as the new Twin Pad Arena, Peter Hallman Ball Yard, St Mary's High School, along with the existing commercial and industrial properties. John McBride Director of Transportation Planning KC Ken Carmichael, C.E.T. Supervisor of Traffic and Parking Grant Murphy, P.Eng. Director of Engineering Attachment: Appendix A -Hanson Avenue Extension Alternatives 5