TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE

 

 

 

 

 

TO:

Mayor and Members of Council

 

 

 

 

FROM:

Alan Brown, Director of Engineering

 

 

 

 

PREPARED BY:

Lloyd Fernandes, Capital Works Engineer

Allan Arbuckle, Manager of Infrastructure and Capital Works

 

 

 

 

DATE OF MEETING:

2004 – September - 27

 

 

 

 

SUBJECT:

Main Street Unionville South

Class Environmental Assessment

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

THAT the report entitled “Main Street Unionville Class Environmental Assessment,” dated September 27, 2004 be received;

 

AND THAT the preferred alternative for the reconstruction of Main Street Unionville South between Hwy 7 and Unionville Gate/Enterprise Drive as detailed in the Main Street Unionville Class Environmental Assessment Study, Environmental Study Addendum Report be endorsed;

 

AND THAT Engineering Department staff be authorized to file the Environmental Study Addendum Report for the 30 day public review commencing October 5 2004;

 

AND THAT Engineering staff be authorized to retain qualified consulting firms to provide preliminary engineering services for the project including geotechnical investigations, pavement evaluation and bridge condition surveys for an estimated total cost of $ 53,500 inclusive of 7% GST ($ 50,000 exclusive of GST).

 

AND THAT funding for this project be provided from the approved Capital Budget account #  083-5399-5224-005.               .

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s endorsement of the preferred alternative for the reconstruction of Main Street Unionville South from Highway 7 to Unionville Gate/Enterprise Drive and to authorize Engineering staff to retain consultants to undertake preliminary engineering design work for the project.

 

BACKGROUND:

Improvements to Main Street South are Required

Main Street from Highway 7 to the Rouge River (north of Unionville Gate) is designated as a Heritage Conservation District within the Town of Markham.  This section of Main Street currently consists of four traffic lanes with narrow boulevards which provide very little opportunity to accommodate decorative streetscaping similar to that which exists along Main Street north of Highway 7.

 

During the preparation of the Enterprise Drive Environmental Assessment in 2002, the residents of Main Street South raised concerns about pedestrian and vehicular safety and the potential loss of local heritage qualities due to increased traffic volumes on Main Street resulting from the proposed connection to the Enterprise Drive extension to Kennedy Road at Unionville Gate. To address these concerns, Main Street South was incorporated into the Enterprise Drive and Helen Avenue Extension EA Study.  A number of alternatives for the Main Street were developed and presented to the residents at three Public Information Centres held on April 17, 2002, August 15, 2002 and on April 24, 2003. The alternatives included;

·        Maintain the existing 4 lane cross-section (Do Nothing Alternative)

·        Narrow the pavement to create a 3 lane cross-section

·        Narrow the pavement to create a 2 lane cross-section

·        Maintain the existing 4 lane cross-section to provide 2 through traffic lanes and 2 centre median lanes to accommodate a future rapid transit corridor.

·        Maintain the existing 4 lane cross-section and close Main Street to through traffic at the Rouge River bridge.

 

An evaluation of these options was conducted however, a recommendation of a preferred alternative could not be finalized because two studies which would effect the selection of a preferred alternative, the Environmental Assessment for the York Rapid Transit Plan (YRTP) and the Unionville Traffic Management Plan, had not been completed. A decision was therefore made to suspend work on the Main Street portion of the Enterprise Drive Class EA Study until such time as these studies had been completed to the extent that their impact on the selection of a preferred Main Street alternative could be determined.

 

In the spring of this year, YRTP staff advised the Town that the Main Street South transit routing alternative was no longer being considered. In addition, the Unionville Traffic Management Plan had been completed to the stage that the importance of maintaining the Main Street connection to Markham Centre as an important link in the overall traffic network for the Unionville area had been confirmed. Based on this information, the evaluation of the alternatives for Main Street South was completed and presented to the residents on June 16th, 2004.  

 

DISCUSSION;

Recommended Alternative

The recommended concept for the reconstruction of Main Street South is shown on Attachment “A”. The Preferred Alternative includes;

·        the narrowing of Main Street from the existing four-lane cross-section to a two-lane urban cross-section with turning lanes at the Highway 7 and Enterprise Drive/Unionville Gate intersections. 

·        The provision on street parking on both sides of the road by utilizing the existing curb lanes with curb “bump-outs” to define parking areas.

·        The creation of on-street bicycle lanes from Highway 7 to Enterprise Drive.

·        Improved streetscaping, lighting and pedestrian facilities.

 

Typical  cross-section details are as shown on Attachment “B”.

 

The streetscaping plan will be developed as a part of the Main Street Unionville (South)/Highway 7 Streetscaping Study to be undertaken by the Town’s Urban Design Department in consultation with the adjacent land owners and residences.

Public Consultation

The Municipal Class Environmental Assessment requires that a minimum of two contacts with the public be provided. Given the local interest in this project, a total of four public information centers have been conducted in addition to the publishing and distribution of a Notice of Study Commencement and a Notice of Study Completion. The Public Information Centres were advertised in the local newspaper and notices were delivered to all property owners in the study area. Engineering Department staff and representatives from the consultant project team were in attendance to receive comments and answer questions. Comment sheets and information handouts were made available to all attendees.

 

The first Public Information Centre was held on April 17 2002 and was attended by 35 people. Although the principle focus of this PIC was to present the need and justification, existing conditions, alternative solutions and preliminary alternatives for the Enterprise Drive/Helen Avenue extensions,  a considerable number of comments and concerns were expressed by residents relating to the impact on Main Street of providing a connection to Enterprise Drive,  the need to preserve and enhance the heritage character of Main Street and the need to reduce the speed of vehicles using Main Street.

 

The second PIC, held on Wednesday August 15th, 2002 to specifically present the background information and the proposed alternative solutions for Main Street, was attended by a total of 25 people.  The key concerns expressed included the volume of traffic traveling on Main Street as a result of the connection to Enterprise Drive at Unionville Gate, the need to maintain the character of Main Street, the impact of excessive truck traffic and the need to maintain access to the proposed high school site via Enterprise Drive.

 

The third PIC, held on April 24 2003, presented further details of the Main Street and Enterprise Drive alternatives, identified a preferred alternative for Enterprise Drive and presented an evaluation of the Main Street alternatives. Residents were also advised that the selection of a preferred  alternative for Main Street was being deferred pending the completion of the Environmental Assessment for the York Rapid Transit Plan (YRTP) and the Unionville Traffic Management Plan.

 

The fourth Public Information Centre, held on Wednesday June 16th 2004, presented the recommended alternative and the preliminary design concept. A total of twelve people attended the meeting and the majority expressed agreement with the recommended alternative.  The key concern  was that residents be given the opportunity to be involved in the detailed design phase of the project and that the preferred alternative be implemented in conjunction with the construction of the second phase of the Enterprise Drive extension project. 

 

Urban Design and Streetscape Input

The residents have requested the opportunity to be involved in the development of the design of the project particularly the urban design/streetscaping component. This opportunity will be provided during the detailed design of the road works by the Engineering Department and through the Main Street Unionville (South)/ Highway 7 Streetscape Study to be undertaken by Urban Design staff.

 

Project Schedule

The proposed reconstruction of Main Street South has been included in the Engineering Department’s proposed 10-year capital program and is proposed to be included as a part of the construction of the second phase of the Enterprise Drive/Helen Avenue extension project.  The following preliminary schedule has been developed for the project;

 

·        Preliminary design studies & resident consultation –October 2004 to April 2005

·        detailed design – April 2005 to December 2005

·        Tender – February 2006
·        Construction – April 2006 to July 2007
 

It is proposed that the detailed design and construction of the Main Street South improvements will be done in conjunction with the second phase of the Enterprise Drive construction, the extension of the roadway to Kennedy Road through Unionville Gate.

 

Preliminary Engineering Studies

In order to more accurately determine the scope of construction required to implement the preferred alternative solution, a number of preliminary engineering studies and investigations need to be completed including an evaluation of the existing pavement structure, a structural appraisal of the existing Rouge River bridge, existing condition surveys of the sewers and watermains and a geotechnical investigation. Staff are proposing that consulting firms be retained  to undertake these investigations in advance of the commencement of the detailed design work to enable more accurate budget values to be developed. In accordance with the requirements of the Town’s Purchasing By-law, proposals will be requested from three qualified consulting firms for each of these preliminary studies.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The total cost for the reconstruction of Main Street South excluding the urban design elements is estimated as $ 635,000.  These costs will be further refined once the preliminary engineering investigations and urban design studies are completed.

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Finance Department, Planning and Urban Design have reviewed this report and their comments have been incorporated. 

 

 ATTACHMENTS:

“A” Preferred Alternative

“B” Preferred Cross-Section

“

 

 

 

 

 

 

Alan Brown, C.E.T.

Director of Engineering

 

Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Commissioner of Development Services

 

Q:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2004\September\Main Street South EA.doc