Passmore Avenue

Class Environmental Assessment Study

Public Information Centre #1

November 29, 2016

Photo looking west toward west limit

Background and Study Area

• Municipal infrastructure projects are subject to

requirements under the Environmental Assessment Act.

• Passmore Avenue is an east-west collector road in a mixed

commercial/industrial area, located in the north-east part of

the City.

• The study area is bounded by Middlefield Road to the west,

Markham Road to the east, McNicoll Avenue to the south

and Steeles Avenue East to the north.

• Within the study area, Passmore Avenue is urbanized with

four traffic lanes from the Middlefield Road intersection to

approximately 450 metres (m) west of Markham Road.

• The project focus area, from the Markham Road

intersection to approximately 450m west, is a two lane rural

road and is identified in the Official Plan to require a 27m

right-of-way.

The purpose of the study is to identify the preferred alternative to address the deteriorated condition of the roadway.

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Problem and/or Opportunity Statement

Passmore Avenue between Markham Road and approximately 450m west of

the intersection requires rehabilitation to address poor road surface

conditions.

Given the rehabilitation work required, there is an opportunity to improve

connectivity; provide consistency in the number of traffic lanes; address

drainage and water service infrastructure requirements; and consider future

growth in the Study Area as an active employment community.

The Passmore Avenue Environmental Assessment Study will consider

improvements to the public realm to provide greater safety and access

to/from the project focus area for all users and to encourage transit use,

cycling and walking as viable modes of transportation.

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• A planning and decision-making process, approved under the provincial Environmental Assessment Act

• Multi-phase process where level of detail increases as the planning process progresses

• Public and agency consultation

• Considers a reasonable range of alternatives

• Considers impacts to all aspects of the environment (natural, built, cultural, social, economic environments)

• Systematically evaluates net environmental effects

• Passmore Avenue Environmental Assessment is being carried out as a Schedule ‘C’ project, which is the most rigorous process under the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment

What is a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment?

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The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process

Phase 1: Identify & Describe Problem(s) & Opportunities

• Develop Problem(s) & Opportunities Statement

Phase 2: Identify Reasonable Range of Alternative Solutions

• Inventory existing environment

• Identify the impact of the alternative solutions after mitigation

• Evaluate the alternative solutions

• Identify a preliminary recommended preferred alternative

solution

Phase 3: Alternative Design Concepts for Preferred Solution

Phase 4: Environmental Study Report

Phase 5: Implementation

Notice of Commencement and

Public Information Centre #1:

November 29, 2016

Notice of Completion

(30-day Public Review Period)

Public

Input

at any

time in

process

and at

Key

Points

Public Information Centre #2:

March, 2017

We are here

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Consultation Plan

• Public and agency input

• Letters to Property owners (potential for/confirmation of impacts)

• Combined Notice of Study Commencement and Notice of Public Information Centre (PIC) #1

• Ad appeared in the November 17, 2016 edition of the Scarborough Mirror

• PIC #1: November 29, 2016

• PIC #2 tentatively planned for March 2017

• Environmental Study Report – late Spring 2017

• Notice of Study Completion

• Environmental Study Report will be made available on the public record and project web page for a 30-day review period

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7

Existing Conditions – Overview

Passmore Avenue

Dynam

ic D

rive

Sta

te C

row

n B

oule

vard

Maybro

ok

Drive

Mid

dle

field

Road Select Avenue

Future Site

Development

Armadale

Church &

Cemetery

Focus Area

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Existing Conditions – Drainage and Pavement

Looking east along the two lane rural section toward Markham Road illustrating truck traffic in this industrial and commercial area. Culvert and ditch drainage repairs due to poor shallow drainage causing wet road structure conditions. Both issues lead to poor pavement structure.

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Between Markham Road and Dynamic Drive; underground infrastructure requiring repairs.

Existing Conditions – Active Transportation and Streetscape

Looking south west along the two lane section toward Dynamic Drive. Facilities on this two lane section of Passmore Avenue focus on motorized vehicles. Active Transportation facilities such as complete sidewalks and cycling infrastructure lacking.

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Looking west along the two lane section, west of Dynamic Drive. Poor road surface conditions, inconsistent gravel shoulder surfaces, lack of TTC facilities at bus stop. Boulevard trees are prevalent on south boulevard.

Existing Conditions – Access

Looking southeast at the two lane section, west of Dynamic Drive. Poor road surface conditions, numerous driveways have access from the single through traffic lanes in each direction.

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Looking west at west limit.

Existing Conditions – Transition 2 to 4 Lanes at West Limit

Four to two-lanes transition. Poor road surface and uneven gravel shoulders with limited drainage transitions to improved road surface, and formal curb and gutters with catchbasins and storm sewers. Width and remaining boulevards are similar and trees are prevalent in both sections.

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Looking eastLooking west

Alternative Solutions

1. Do Nothing (representing

baseline conditions for comparison)

2. Reconstruct roadway to

existing rural conditions

3. Reconstruct roadway to

2-lane urban cross-section,

with public realm and

active transportation improvements

4. Widen roadway to

4-lane urban cross-section,

with public realm and

active transportation improvements

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Evaluation CriteriaPlanning and Policy Context

• Address Official Plan objectives

• Improve connectivity

• Urban Design

• Consider existing and future development

Transportation

• Safety for all mode users

• Operations

• Accessibility for Ontarians With Disabilities Act

(AODA) and City of Toronto Standards

• Multimodal provisions

• Provision for Emergency Services

Natural Environment

• Vegetation and Existing Trees

• Wildlife

• New Tree Plantings

• Air Quality

• Climate Change

Cultural and Built Heritage Environment

• Cultural heritage landscapes

• Built heritage

• Potential for archaeological impacts

Social-Economic Environment

• Noise Impacts

• Property acquisitions

Engineering and Costs

• Drainage/Stormwater Management

• Construction feasibility and staging

• Construction costs and impacts to utilities

• Operations and Maintenance costs

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Evaluation Methodology

• Alternative Solutions evaluated on how they address the problem/opportunity

• The Do Nothing scenario represents baseline for comparison

• Evaluation criteria based on environmental categories, as defined in theEnvironmental Assessment Act

• Assessment process will score each criterion on a 5-point scale, from most to least desirable, and compare alternatives against each other and the baseline

• Systematic approach ensures that the conclusions and recommendations are reached in a clear and logical fashion

• Public and agency input on evaluation criteria and methodology, conclusions and recommendations

• Further refinement of methodology and criteria when considering alternative design concepts

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Technical Studies

Completed:

• Phase 1 Environmental Site Assessment

• Natural Environment Assessment

• Tree Assessment and Arborist Report

• Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment

In addition, plans, profiles and typical cross sections have been prepared to identify constraints and impacts for each of the Alternative Solutions.

Future/Further Studies:

• Transportation Comprehensive Study including collision and traffic reviews

• Geotechnical and hydrogeological investigations

Preliminary design, including cross-section elements, to be considered in the next phase will include: lane widths, boulevard and sidewalk widths, lighting and streetscape (furniture, trees).

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Evaluation Matrix – Summary Results

Category

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Summary Results and Preferred Solution Recommendation

Alternative 1 Alternative 2 Alternative 3 Alternative 4

Do Nothing Reconstruct to Existing Rural ConditionsReconstruct to 2-Lane Urban Cross-section with Public Realm and

Active Transportation Improvements

Widen to 4-Lane Urban Cross-section with Public Realm and Active

Transportation Improvements

X Does not meet the 4-lane planning objective for a 27 metres right-

of-way.X Does not meet the 4-lane planning objective for a 27 metres right-

of-way.

X Does not meet the 4-lane planning objective for a 27 metres right-

of-way.√ Meets the 4-lane planning objective for a

27 metres right-of-way.

X Does not meet Official Plan policy direction to encourage active

transportation initiatives

X Does not meet Official Plan policy direction to encourage active

transportation initiatives.√ Meets Official Plan policy direction to encourage active

transportation initiatives.

√ Meets Official Plan policy direction to encourage active

transportation initiatives.

X No improvement to existing connectivity or urban design

improvements.

X No improvement to existing connectivity or urban design

improvements.

X No improvement to existing connectivity for vehicles, some urban

design improvements.√ Improved connectivity and urban design improvements.

X Does not provide accessibility or safety improvements. X Does not provide accessibility or safety improvements. √ Provides improved accessibility and safety.√ Provides improved accessibility and significantly greater safety

with 4-lanes.

X Does not provide road consistency. X Does not provide road consistency. X Does not provide road consistency.√ Provides consistency in the number of traffic lanes in the focus

area.

√ No impacts on the natural and social environments. No

archeological impacts.

√ Minimal net impacts to the natural and social environments. No

archeological impacts.

X Moderate net impacts to the natural and social environments. No

archeological impacts.

X Highest net impacts to the natural and social environments. No

archeological impacts.

X Will not address existing pavement issues. √ Will address existing pavement issues. √ Will address existing pavement issues. √ Will address existing pavement issues.

X Will not address drainage issues. X Will not fully address drainage issues. √ Will address existing drainage issues. √ Will address existing drainage issues.

√ No construction costs. X Moderate construction costs. X Moderate construction costs. X Highest construction costs.

X No change to conditions will increase operations and maintenance

costs.√ Improved conditions will reduce operations and maintenance

costs.

X Increased operations and maintenance costs with added public

realm features

X Increased operations and maintenance costs with additional lanes

and public realm features

Not Recommended Not Recommended Not Recommended RECOMMENDED

Evaluation Results – Preliminary Preferred Solution

North South

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Based on the results of the evaluation of impacts, the recommended Preferred Alternative Solution: Widen roadway to 4-lane urban cross-section, with public realm and active transportation improvements.

GrassBoulevard

3.3m

Landscaped Boulevard

Landscaped Area

Note: Cross section elements are preliminary.

Road widths and design will be refined and evaluated in subsequent phases of the study, in accordance with the established evaluation criteria and with public input.

Drive lane

Proposed ROW: 27m

Alternative 4 – Widen Roadway to 4-lane Urban Cross-section

MAT

CH

LIN

E A

-A

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Alternative 4 – Widen Roadway to 4-lane Urban Cross-sectionM

ATC

HLI

NE

A-A

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Summary of Impacts of Preferred SolutionPlanning and Policy Context• Consistent with City planning policies and objectives

• Improves connectivity

Transportation• Provides increased safety and improved operations

• Provides consistency in the number of traffic lanes

• Increases accessibility and improved pedestrian

environment

Natural Environment• Grading will have impact on trees requiring some

removals

• Opportunity for new tree plantings• No significant impact to natural features or wildlife

habitat

Cultural and Built Heritage Environment• No impacts to built heritage or cultural heritage

landscapes

• No archaeological potential identified within the project

focus area

Social-Economic Environment• Property acquisition required to meet 4-lane

planning objective

• Reconstructed pavement will minimize noise level

increases

• Road widening will improve traffic flow, but may also

attract more traffic volume and increase noise levels

Engineering and Costs• Improvements to drainage and stormwater management

system

• Property acquisition costs

• Highest capital costs and potential impact to utilities

(relocation)

• Moderate traffic impacts during construction

• Added roadway width and active transportation features

will increase future operations and maintenance costs

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Future Studies

Further studies will be undertaken in the next phase of the process when developing, assessing and evaluating alternative design concepts.

• Transportation Comprehensive Study including collision and traffic reviews

• Geotechnical and Hydrogeological Investigations

Cross section elements to be considered in the next phase will include:

• Lane widths

• Boulevard and sidewalks widths

• Streetscape (street lighting, furniture and trees)

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Next Steps

Thank You!Your involvement is essential to the

success of the study.

• Review comments from Public Information Centre (PIC) #1

• Confirm Recommended Alternative Solution

• Develop and Evaluate Alternative Design Concepts

• Identify a recommended preliminary preferred Alternative Design

• Hold PIC #2 (March 2017)

• Confirm Recommended Alternative Design

• Finalize Design of Preferred Alternative Design

• Finalize Environmental Study Report

• Publish Notice of Study Completion and initiate 30-day public review period

Your comments are welcomed at any time throughout the study.

Please provide your feedback with respect to the PIC #1 materials by December 13, 2016.

How to get involved? Provide your feedback now using the online form:

www.toronto.ca/passmore

Input received will

be used to

confirm the

Recommended

Preferred Solution

Contact information:Maogosha Pyjor

Senior Public Consultation Coordinator

City of Toronto, Metro Hall

55 John Street, 19th Floor

Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3C6

Phone: 416-338-2850 Fax: 416-392-2974

Email: mpyjor@toronto.ca