0

Table of Contents

Welcome

Introduction

Study Area Aerial Photo Mosaic

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Process

Provincial Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Process

Need and Justification

Study Area Extension – Bishopsgate Road Realignment Alternatives

New Realignment Alternatives Coarse Screening

Bishopsgate Road Realignment/Interchange Alternatives Carried Forward

Evaluation Alternatives

Interchange Alternatives

Intersection Control

Next Steps

Resource Table

1

MTO Patrol Yard

County of Brant

Proposed Bishopsgate Road & Highway 403 Interchange

Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study

Welcome

Welcome to the supplemental Public Information Centre (PIC) meeting. This

meeting was scheduled to address comments received at Public Information Centre

No. 2. Please record your attendance and obtain a comment sheet at the

registration desk.

Several background reports are available at the Resource Table. Should you have

any questions regarding the presentation materials, background reports or any

other aspect of the study, please speak to the County or Consultant study team

members in attendance.

We encourage your input/feedback on the material being presented on the display

boards. Please deposit completed comment sheets in the comment box or

mail/fax/e-mail to the address at the bottom of the form by Friday, September 23,

2016.

There is an opportunity at any time during the Class EA process for interested

persons to provide written input. Any comments received will be collected under the

Environmental Assessment Act and, with the exception of personal information, will

become part of the public record. .

2

Introduction

The County of Brant has initiated this Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for

the planning of a new interchange with Highway 403, and a realignment to

connect Puttown Road to the new interchange.

This Study will complete all phases of the Class EA by establishing the need and

justification for the project, considering all alternatives and proactively involving

the public in defining a Recommended Plan for improvements.

Based on the range of anticipated effects and capital cost of the project, the study

is being initiated as a Municipal Schedule C or Provincial Group B project. A

Study Design describing the study process has been prepared for agency and

public review. It is available at the Resource Table and has been posted on the

County website for public review and comments..

3

icaosMo hotPl riaeA are AdytuS

Whiteman’s

Creek

Complex

Falkland

Bishopsgate

R

oad

4

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Process

This Class Environmental Assessment will follow a harmonized Class EA process

meeting the requirements of both the Municipal Class EA (amended 2011) and the

Class EA for Provincial Transportation Facilities (amended July 2000), copies of

which are available at the Resource Table.

The Class EA study will culminate in the delivery of an Environmental Study Report

(ESR)/Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR), which is a detailed

compilation of all data and reports produced for the project.

Study process is here (PIC #2B)

Provincial Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Process

5

PIC #2B Study process is here (PIC #2B)

If after viewing the exhibits and otherwise participating in this project, and at the

conclusion of the process, you still have concerns, you have the right to request the

Minister of the Environment to reclassify the project through a Part II Order (or

“bump-up”) to an Individual Environmental Assessment.

6

Need and Justification

Current and expected increases in traffic in the Region necessitate transportation

improvements to the surrounding infrastructure. A new interchange on

Bishopsgate Road, and the realignment of Bishopsgate Road to Puttown Road

was identified in the County of Brant’s Transportation Master Plan for the 2021-

2031 planning horizon to address the following needs:

• Accommodation for truck traffic from planned area aggregate sites;

• Reduce the potential for aggregate site traffic on Bethel Road and/or

Powerline Road; and

• Increased service/accommodation for future traffic growth.

7

Study Area Extension – Bishopsgate Road Realignment Alternatives

Based on public comments received at PIC No. 2, three additional alignments were considered:

Note: Interchange numbering reflects:

Location 1 – Existing Bishopsgate Road;

Location 2 – Relocated Bishopsgate Road;

and Location 3 Maple Avenue North

8

New Realignment Alternatives Coarse Screening

Screening Criteria Alternative 1E Alternative 3A Alternative 2E

Transportation

Performance

• Will alternative

provide equal

magnitude of

service?

• Longer travel

route to

access

Highway 403

• Longer travel

route to

access

Highway 403

Environmental

Effects

• Does the

alternative have

substantial

increased

environmental

effects in

comparison to

others being

carried forward?

• 2 km crossing

of Provincially

Significant

Wetland (PSW)

• Interchange

completely

enclosed within

PSW

-

• Farmland

impacts to be

investigated

• Significant

loss of

farmland

Cost

• Does the

alternative have a

significantly

higher cost than

other

alternatives?

• Significantly

higher capital

cost of roadway

and interchange

within PSW

• Significantly

longer route

versus 1 km

for TMP route

Summary of

Recommendations

Not carried forward

Recommend to

be carried forward

Not carried

forward

Note: Interchange numbering reflects:

Location 1 – Existing Bishopsgate Road;

Location 2 – Relocated Bishopsgate Road; and

Location 3 – Maple Avenue North

9

Study Area Extension – Maple Avenue North Alternatives

Based on the preliminary coarse screening, Maple Avenue North was recommended to

be carried forward for further evaluation as an alternative interchange location. The

additional alignment alternatives considered along Maple Avenue North are illustrated

on the following exhibits:

10

Maple Avenue North Alternatives Coarse Screening

Screening Criteria Alternative

3A

Alternative

3B

Alternative

3C

Alternative

3D

Environmental

Footprint

High

Low

High

Low

Impact on Existing

Residents

-

Moderate

High

Low

High

Roadway Geometry

Good

Poor

Good

Poor

Within Brant County

Yes

Yes

No

Yes

Improves Safety at

Puttown Road/King

Edward Street

Intersection

Yes

No

Yes

No

Summary of

Recommendations

Carried

Forward

Not Carried

Forward

Not Carried

Forward

Not Carried

Forward

Based on the preliminary coarse screening Maple Avenue North is recommended to be

carried forward for further evaluation as a potential interchange location along with

Alternative 3A realignment to Puttown Road.

Conclusions:

• Considered a reasonable alternative for a truck route diversion to Highway 403 (trucks

from the south will access the interchange via Golf Links Road)

• Alternative has equal or less effects in comparison to other alternatives being carried

forward

• Alternative has equal or less capital cost than other alternatives being carried forward

• This option will bypass the Falkland settlement area, and will increase accessibility to

Burford

11

Bishopsgate Road Realignment/Interchange Alternatives Carried Forward

The following are the alternatives carried forward for evaluation:

12

Evaluation Alternatives

The alternatives will involve a combination of interchange location alternatives,

interchange configuration alternatives and Bishopsgate Road alignment alternatives. An

example of how these will be combined to create an overall Technically Preferred Plan

is illustrated below:

Interchange Location Alternatives

Alignment Alternatives + Interchange Configuration Alternatives +

The Analysis and Evaluation Methodology Report is available on the resource table.

....

-, ----_.,--

_. --

_. ..... .-.. _---

AltllmatIY.,. Indicating II 110m tapar ~ nIII raqulnil Iln.JctUI'9 wkIIInll'lll, all8rnstlvee 1rdc8~1'G It 180m alRndard l:aper mqull"l!l minor IIIJudIm v.td9nIng.

-­........ -.--

_. --

_. ---.,----

Intercluongll ~BlshoJl!l9lllI1 - Exilltlng AllgntTlllllt

----_.,--

_. --

_. --.. ----

_. --

_. _ ..... ,----

= --

_. --

_. --

Interchange Alternatives Bishopsgale - New Road Alignment East of EJtisting _. --

Interchange Alternatives Maple Avenue North

_. -

_. -

_. -

_. -

15

Intersection Control

A new or upgraded intersection will be required on Bishopsgate Road due to

increases in traffic. The technically preferred alternative for intersection control is

a roundabout. Safety issues likely to be resolved with a roundabout include:

• Currently free flow through Falkland (no stopping)

• Poor intersection design at Puttown Road (County Road 36)

Safety improvements with the use of a roundabout include:

• Almost eliminates injury causing collisions

• Typically reduces all collisions by 72% in rural areas

See resource table for technical comparison of alternatives

Technically Preferred Alternative

16

Next Steps

Following this meeting we will:

• Review all Comments

• Complete Detailed Environmental Inventories

• Complete Detailed Analysis and Evaluation of Alternatives

• Public Information Centre No. 3

• Public Information Centre No. 4

• Finalize the Recommended Plans

• File the Environmental Study Report (ESR)/Transportation Environmental Study

Report (TESR) – Winter 2016/2017

How can you remain involved in the Study?

• Request that your name/e-mail be added to the mailing list

• Provide a completed comment sheet

• Contact the County’s representative or the consultant at any time

Any of our representatives that are present can assist you with the above activities.

Thank you for your participation in tonight’s meeting. Your input into this study is

valuable and appreciated. Please provide your completed comment form on or

before September 23, 2016. All information is collected in accordance with the

Freedom of Information and Privacy Act.

17

Resource Table

List of resources on this table:

• Draft Study Design - Class Environmental Assessment for Proposed New

Interchange at Bishopsgate Road & Highway 403

• Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

• Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities

• County of Brant Transportation Master Plan

• County of Brant Trail Master Plan

• Assessment of Alternatives to the Undertaking/Alternative Planning Solutions

and the Analysis and Evaluation of Alternatives Methodology Report

• Cultural Heritage Assessment – Highway 403 and Bishopsgate Road

• Aquatic Habitat Resources Technical Memorandum