Report to: Development Services Committee                         Report Date: November 20, 2007

 

SUBJECT:                          Class Environmental Assessment for Centurian Drive

                                             Woodbine Avenue to Allstate Parkway

 

PREPARED BY:               Allan Arbuckle, Manager, Infrastructure and Capital Works, ext. 3120

                                            Gina Gammarano, Capital Works Engineer, ext. 4040

 

 

RECOMMENDATION:

 

That the report entitled “Centurian Drive Class Environmental Assessment”, dated November 20, 2007 be received;

 

And that the preferred alternative for the reconstruction of Centurian Drive between Allstate Parkway and Woodbine Avenue as detailed in the Centurian Drive Class Environmental Assessment Study Report be endorsed;

 

And that subject to 2008 Capital Budget approval staff be authorized to proceed with the detailed design for the Centurian Drive improvements;

 

And that the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into agreements to acquire properties as may be required to implement the recommended alternative subject to the approval of the CAO and the Town Solicitor and 2008 capital budget approval;

 

And that in the event that staff are unable to come to an agreement with the property owners for the acquisition of the required lands, the CAO, in conjunction with the Town Solicitor, be authorized to expropriate the necessary property and/or easements;

 

And that staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary, including the execution of documents, to give effect to the above.

 

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s endorsement of the preferred alternative for the reconstruction of Centurian Drive from Allstate Parkway to Woodbine Avenue and to authorize staff to commence the acquisition of property.

 

BACKGROUND:

Increasing traffic congestion along the road network bounded by 16th Ave., Highway 7, Leslie St. and Woodbine Ave. indicated a need for alternative transportation options within the area. In addition, due to future development growth projections, collector road crossings of Highway 404 are recommended to offload arterial roads in the area. As a result, in October 2005 the Town examined the option for mid-block crossings of Highway 404 between Highway 7 and 16th Ave. through a Class Environmental Assessment.  The Environmental Study Report (“Highway 404 Mid-Block Crossing Between Highway 7 and 16th Avenue” ) recommended a mid-block collector road from Pearce St. in Richmond Hill over Highway 404 to Centurian Drive in Markham and identified the possible need for road improvements on Centurian Drive from Allstate Parkway to Woodbine Avenue.

 

In January 2007, the engineering consulting firm Cansult Ltd. was retained to prepare a Class Environmental Assessment to confirm the need for improvements on Centurian Drive and to identify and evaluate alternatives for these improvements.  The Environmental Study Report has now been completed and was placed on public record on July 19, 2007. The 30-day review period ended on August 20th, 2007 and no comments from the public or interested parties were received during this period.

 

DISCUSSION

The Environmental Study Report recommends that in order to accommodate projected traffic on Centurian Dr. associated with the construction of a Highway 404 grade separation, the existing 2-lane road be widened from an 11.0m paved roadway to 12.5m to incorporate a centre lane for left turning traffic.

 

Recommended Alternative

The recommended alternative for the reconstruction of Centurian Drive is shown on Attachment “A” and consists of the following main components,

·        widening the existing pavement along the north side of the road to create a continuous common center left turn lane

·        Intersection configuration improvements including the addition of turning lanes

·        The provision of traffic signals at the Frontenac Drive and Allstate Parkway intersections

·        Creation of an on-street parking lane along the south side of the road from Frontenac Dr. to Woodbine Ave and maintenance of existing on-street parking from Allstate Pkwy to Frontenac Dr. as part of the Town’s Parking Management Strategy

·        Improved pavement markings and signage

·        Signed-only bicycle route in accordance with  Town’s cycling master plan

 

Property Acquisition

The reconstruction of Centurian Drive in the preferred alternative may require the acquisition of minor widenings particularly at intersections to accommodate turn lanes, traffic signals or utility relocations. The extent of property required will be determined at the detailed design stage and staff are requesting authorization to proceed with the acquisition of any required property subject to the approval of the CAO and Town Solicitor and 2008 capital budget approval.

 

Public Consultation

In accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, a Public Information Centre was held on May 17, 2007.  Stakeholders, review agencies and affected property owners were invited to attend to review preliminary alternative alignments. Notice of this meeting was advertised in the local newspaper and delivered to all property owners in the study area. One member of the public attended the meeting. No comments from the public or interested parties were received.

 

Project Schedule

The Town’s capital plan currently includes the detailed design for the Centurian Drive widening in 2008/2009 with construction scheduled for 2009/2010.

 

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS

Funding in the amount of $599,200 is proposed in the draft 2008 Capital Budget (8080) for detailed design and property acquisition in 2008.  The total cost for the widening of Centurian Drive is estimated at approximately $1,950,000 including engineering and contingencies to be funded from Development Charges which funding will be requested in 2009 Capital Budget. These costs will be further refined once the detailed design is completed and funding will be included in future Capital Budgets.

 

 

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Legal Department has reviewed this report and its comments have been incorporated.

 

RECOMMENDED BY:  

 

 

 

_______________________                                      ________________________

Alan Brown, C.E.T.                                                      Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P.

Director of Engineering                                     Commissioner, Development Services

 

 

 

ATTACHMENTS

“A” Preferred Alternative

“B” Preferred Cross Section

“C” Key Map

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q/development/engineering/reports/2007/november