The purpose of the Public Information Centre (PIC) is to present the preferred route for the entire study area, and to obtain comments from all interested stakeholders.

 

The study team will present and obtain input on the evaluation results for route alternatives in the Shakespeare area, the preferred route for the entire study area, and the next steps in the EA process.

 

The study team has reviewed and considered comments received from the last PIC, made the appropriate modifications to the route alternatives and evaluation criteria presented in July 2010 and evaluated the reasonable alternatives to select a preferred route.

 

The facilitated stakeholder workshop was held over two days in March:

• The first session involved participants offering input on changes to the route evaluation criteria, indicating their ideas on route alternatives, and providing a rationale for their suggestions.
• The second session involved a review of the refined route evaluation criteria and route alternatives shared at the March 8 session.

The working group also discussed the strengths and weaknesses of each alternative as well as avoidance and mitigation possibilities while taking into account various issues, such as property and business impacts, pedestrian safety, cultural and heritage preservation, noise and air quality. Workshop participants included representatives from the general public, citizen and business groups, the agricultural community and local municipalities.

 

Recently, much of our efforts have focused on examining route alternatives in the Shakespeare area at a higher level of detail. Although we are presenting a preferred route for the entire study area, much of the new information being presented is central to the study area. Therefore, the PICs are being held at the Shakespeare District Optimist Hall. The PIC is open to all stakeholders.

The Shakespeare and District Optimist Hall is central to the study area and has ample space to accommodate large events.

 

Yes. We are asking stakeholders to provide their comments by March 25, 2011.

 

The route alternatives were subjected to a comparative evaluation process that considered a broad range of natural, socio-economic, cultural and transportation criteria. The preferred route provides the necessary transportation capacity and safety with the least overall environmental impact.

Consultation is an important part of the EA process. This study has provided our stakeholders with the opportunity to be engaged in the EA process and actively participate by providing valuable local information that the study team would otherwise not have. Our additional consultations combined with exceptional public participation have helped us reach a collaborative and well-balanced solution.

 

The criteria used to select a preferred route was in part developed and modified to reflect the local information provided by stakeholders through the consultation process. The evaluation process applied this modified criteria and resulted in a Shakespeare bypass having the least overall impact to the greatest amount of identified factors. This process was also validated by the weighted evaluation that stakeholders participated in last summer and fall.

 

Generally the north bypass was not desirable as it encroached into the Easthope Moraine and, having greater potential to affect the natural environment, is located in a wellhead protection area. It also severs a number of agricultural properties, limits the potential for future development, and displaces or encroaches on an aggregate resource. A north bypass also promotes traffic to/from Woodstock and Highway 401 to travel through Shakespeare to a new northern Highway 7/8 connection.

 

Optimizing the existing Highway 7/8 east of Shakespeare is feasible and has less overall impacts to the local natural environment, property and agricultural business. A south bypass alternative from New Hamburg to Shakespeare was assessed in the corridor development stage and was found to have greater overall impacts. Therefore, it was not carried forward for further examination.

 

For the most part, the preferred route has only “edge” effects on farms where it follows front or rear property boundaries. In two areas, one east of Stratford and the other east of Shakespeare, the preferred route goes on a diagonal through farm fields, which will impact the ongoing operations of those farm businesses. During preliminary design of the preferred route, opportunities to minimize and address farm impacts related to concerns such as field drainage and nutrient management will be examined.

 

During the ‘Detailed Planning’ phase, alternatives which utilized the existing right-of-way west of Shakespeare were developed, assessed and evaluated. However, these alternatives were not preferred through a process of comparative evaluation, as detailed in Report H (Selection of Detailed Planning Alternatives for Provincial Roadways). This report will be available for comment at the PIC, local municipal offices and libraries, and on the project web site at www.7and8corridorstudy.ca.

 

No. Determining the preferred route marks the end of the planning phase.

 

Following the PIC in early 2011, the study team will consider comments from all stakeholders and modify the preferred route as necessary. Provided there is no new information and significant changes necessary, the preliminary design phase will commence.

 

After the route location is established, preliminary design will focus on elements such as horizontal and vertical alignment, roadway cross section, right-of-way requirements, drainage, and crossing road connections. The study team will also be investigating ways to avoid or mitigate individual property impacts.

 

Yes. The study plan identifies two more rounds of PICs during preliminary design. A PIC to present the preliminary design alternatives is currently scheduled for late spring 2011. A PIC to present the preferred preliminary design is currently scheduled for early winter 2011. At each stage, stakeholders will have an opportunity to provide input.

 

Given the current schedule, a comprehensive Transportation Environmental Study Report will be published for public review in mid 2012. Publication of this report will mark the end of this study.

 

Currently there is no schedule for construction. Our primary focus is on obtaining environmental approval so the Highway 7/8 corridor can be protected, and over the interim, assist MTO in making smart investment decisions until highway expansion is programmed for construction.

 

We are currently in the early stages of the study with completion expected in 2010. Five of eleven reports have been presented to the public for review and comment. The review period for comments has been extended to September 30, 2008.

The second round of public information centres (PICs) was held in June 2008. A total of six rounds of PICs are planned during the course of the study, supported by additional stakeholder meetings and workshops at key points during the study process. Key information presented at the second round of PICs included:

• Area transportation system problems and opportunities;
• Area transportation system alternatives, including opportunities for alternate modes of transportation to reduce road based demand within the analysis area;
• Existing and new corridor alternatives.

Additional information about the study, including the study process and study schedule, can be found by visiting the study website at www.7and8corridorstudy.ca.

 

The assessment and evaluation of the existing and new corridor alternatives will identify the benefits and negative effects associated with each alternative.   The project team is aware of the extensive agricultural operations in the area.  Agricultural impacts will be an important consideration in the assessment and evaluation process.

A bypass of New Hamburg is only one of the alternatives being considered to ensure Highway 7&8 remains an efficient and sustainable transportation corridor for the movement of people and goods and supports the anticipated growth.  The recently completed rehabilitation work on Highway 7&8 from Waterloo Regional Road 1 to Waterloo Regional Road 5 was undertaken to address the immediate to short-term needs.  There currently is no long-term plan in place that protects for the forecasted traffic volume increases up to the year 2031 and beyond.

 

The study is considering a broad range of alternatives to ensure Highway 7&8 remains an efficient and sustainable transportation corridor for the movement of people and goods and supports the anticipated growth.  These alternatives include:

• improved inter-city transit;
• transportation demand management;
• widening the existing highway throughout;
• widening the existing highway, with bypasses of New Hamburg, Shakespeare and/or Stratford;
• new corridors (north and south of the existing highway);
• limiting highway access;
• combinations of the above alternatives.

The preliminary planning phase of this study has identified potential benefits with an expansion of the existing rail service between Stratford and the Kitchener-Waterloo area and an inter-regional transit service in reducing the highway based demand.  Alternate modes of transportation were thoroughly reviewed and accounted for when forecasting traffic increases to the year 2031, with the appropriate reductions in traffic volumes applied.

The selection of a preferred corridor is a very important step in the study process.  A range of corridor alternatives is under consideration, which includes the existing corridor, bypass corridor alternatives and new corridor alternatives.  Environmental investigations are undertaken to identify significant and sensitive features of the natural, socio-economic and cultural environments so they can be avoided, or so impacts can be minimized to these areas during the generation and evaluation of corridor and route alternatives.

To-date, the natural, socio-economic and cultural environmental features within the analysis area have been documented on the basis of secondary source information (existing/secondary source information – mapping/constraint mapping, data, and reports) supplemented by preliminary field reconnaissance.  Field investigations are being undertaken to augment this information and will assist the Highway 7&8 project team with the assessment and evaluation of corridor alternatives, the selection of the preferred corridor and the future generation of routes within the preferred corridor.

The Highway 7&8 project team would appreciate the opportunity to access private properties to ensure we obtain the best information about existing environmental features within the analysis area.  However, please note that you are not obligated to grant the Highway 7&8 project team access to your property.  It is solely your decision.

 

We are planning to hold community stakeholder workshops in mid to late September.  The workshops will bring together representatives from the community to assist us in better understanding the effects of the various alternatives under consideration.  This information will be considered during the assessment and evaluation process for the selection of a preferred corridor.  The preferred corridor will be presented to the public for review and comment either later this year or early next year.

If you have any questions about the study, please contact one of the following individuals:

Mr. Charles Organ, C.E.T.
MTO Project Manager
Ministry of Transportation
Southwestern Region, Planning and Design
659 Exeter Road, London, ON  N6E 1L3
Toll Free 1 (800) 265-6072
Tel. (519) 873-4591;  Fax (519) 873-4600
Chuck.Organ@ontario.ca

Ms. Brenda Jamieson, P. Eng.
Consultant Project Manager
Totten Sims Hubicki Associates
300 Water Street, Whitby, ON  L1N 9J2
Toll Free 1 (866) 921-9268
Fax (905) 668-0221
brenda.jamieson@aecom.com

Highway 7&8 is identified as a regionally significant part of the overall provincial highway network.  It plays a key role in linking larger communities and supporting economic prosperity across Ontario.  The task of managing a sustainable provincial highway network includes planning for the future.

In 1975, a new route for Highway 7&8 was designated, based on a study that recommended a future plan for a new four-lane highway with a southerly alignment bypassing Stratford and proceeding easterly to New Hamburg.  As a result of objections from the municipalities and the agricultural community, the route was reassessed between 1979 and 1982.  Due to further opposition, and with the agreement of the municipalities, the Ministry of Transportation revoked the designated route in 1982. 

More recently, in December 2002, MTO concluded a Corridor Assessment for Highway 7&8 which identified a future need for safety and operational improvements and increased highway capacity, and recommended a Study Design be initiated as a first step in the Environmental Assessment (EA) process.  The Study Design, completed in early 2006, confirmed the need and justification for safety, operational and capacity improvements for the Highway 7&8 corridor and recommended a future Corridor Planning and EA Study be initiated.  In August 2006, the Minister of Transportation announced that MTO would commence the Corridor Planning and Class EA Study in early 2007.  Subsequent to this announcement, the study was placed on the ministry’s Southern Highways Program.

In February of 2007, MTO retained the services of Totten Sims Hubicki (TSH) to assist MTO in completing the above Study with the objective of developing a long-term strategy and preliminary design that addresses the identified transportation needs to 2031, and obtain the necessary environmental clearance to implement the recommended strategy.  This Study is currently in the preliminary planning stage and is expected to be completed in 2010.

One aspect of the overall strategy will be the determination of when and where the identified safety, operational and capacity improvements should be implemented over the 30-year planning horizon.  An implementation strategy will be developed for the recommended improvements; however, the actual construction timing will be subject to the availability of funding as the forecasted needs become realized. 

Since this Study is in its early stages, it is difficult to determine an accurate sequence of future events leading to property acquisitions and construction as a broad range of decisions have yet to be made.  When environmental approval is obtained, MTO will consider prioritizing the study recommendations against other highway expansion needs throughout the province and programming the Highway 7&8 Study recommendations.