Report to: Development Services Committee Date: December 4, 2007

SUBJECT: Highway 404 Northbound Off Ramp Extension at Highway 7

Class Environmental Assessment

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

Renee Chong, Capital Works Engineer, ext 2034

RECOMMENDATION:

THAT the staff report entitled “Highway 404 Northbound Off Ramp Extension at Highway 7 Class Environmental Assessment” , dated December 4, 2007, be received;

AND THAT the preferred alternative for the construction of the Northbound Off Ramp at Highway 404 and Highway 7 as set out in the Environmental Study Report be endorsed;

AND THAT staff be authorized to issue a Notice of Study Completion for the project which will make the Environmental Study Report available for public review for a period of 45 days commencing December 13^th 2007;

AND THAT the Mayor and Clerk be authorized to enter into Agreements to acquire land which may be required to implement the preferred alternative in a form satisfactory to the CAO and the Town Solicitor and subject to capital budget approval;

AND THAT Staff be authorized and directed to do all things necessary to give effect to this resolution.

PURPOSE:

The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s endorsement of the preferred alignment of the Highway 404 northbound off ramp at Highway 7 as set out in the Class Environmental Assessment.

BACKGROUND:

The need for traffic improvements in the Allstate Parkway Business Park area and the Highway 7 corridor have been identified in a number of previous reports and studies. Operational problems currently exist at intersections within the Study Area and population and employment growth forecasts indicate that congestion and delays are expected to increase. An outline of the Study Area which is bounded by Centurian Drive, Highway 7, Highway 404 and Woodbine Avenue is included as Attachment “A”.

Previous traffic studies have recommended that the existing 404 northbound off-ramp at Highway 7 be extended northerly to provide a direct connection to Allstate Parkway. The proposed ramp extension is one of several recommended improvements to add capacity to the road network in the Study Area including the mid-block crossing over Highway 404, the widening of Centurian Drive and improvements to Highway 7.

DISCUSSION

Recommended Alternative

The recommended alternative is presented on Attachment “B” and includes the creation of a new north-south road which will form the fourth leg of the existing tee intersection at Highway 7 and the 404 off ramp. The new roadway will be extended northerly along the west limit of the Seneca College site to connect to the future extension of Centurian Drive leading to the proposed Highway 404 mid-block crossing as per Attachment ‘A’. The roadway will cross under the existing Highway 7 westbound to 404 northbound on ramp and a new bridge structure will be required to grade separate the proposed road from the existing Highway 7 westbound to 404 northbound on ramp.

The proposed road will have a 3 lane cross section with 2 northbound lanes and one southbound lane. Turning movements at the Highway 7 intersection will be restricted to an outbound right out only and no access from Highway 7 to the new road will be permitted.

Land Requirements

The majority of land required to construct the project was acquired from Seneca College through the site approval process. Minor widenings may be required to facilitate Ministry of Transportation grading and setback requirements. 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 capital budget approval.

Public Consultation

The Environmental Assessment for the Highway 404 Northbound Off Ramp Extension at Highway 7 has followed the public and stakeholder consultation process requirements for Schedule ‘C’ projects as set out in the Municipal Class EA. This consultation process involved the publishing of a Notice of Project Commencement, two public open houses, meetings with reviewing agencies and a Notice of Study Completion which will be published. One written comment and a number of verbal comments have been received to date as a result of the consultation process and all of these comments have been supportive of the project.

Construction Schedule

The Engineering Department capital budget includes funding for detailed design for the 404/Highway 7 off ramp in 2008 with construction to commence in 2011 subject to Council and budget approval.

FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS AND TEMPLATE: (external link)

The cost of construction for this project is estimated at $7.0 million excluding property costs. Funding in the amount of $206,200 is available in account #7712 for the design of this project in 2008. A more detailed cost estimate will be provided during the detailed design stage.

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS:

The alignment of the off ramp road extension was selected through an Environmental Assessment process to minimize the potential impacts to the environment.

BUSINESS UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:

The Legal Department has reviewed this report and their 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

Q/development/engineering/reports/2007/november

ATTACHMENTS:

Attachment A - Site Location

Attachment B - Road Alignment