Comments Heard PUBLIC INFORMATION CENTRE #1: SUMMARY

Transcription

1

2 Images f cmmunity cmments n the Study Area maps The first Public Infrmatin Centre was held fr bth the Casablanca Bulevard and GO Access Envirnmental Assessment and the Livingstn Avenue Extensin Envirnmental Assessment n June 20 th, 2018 at the Casablanca Winery Inn and Spa in Grimsby. The tw EA prjects are being cnducted cncurrently, as the transprtatin assessment fr the cmplete Study Area that includes bth EA prjects aims t prvide a hlistic apprach t mdelling future traffic and netwrk peratins and practively identifying issues that will arise int A ttal f 70 peple signed in t the event, and 13 cmment frms were received. A number f cmments were als received via verbal feedback t members f the prject team, and as part f the Questin & Answer sessin that was held fllwing the presentatin frm the cnsulting team Prject Manager, Paul Macled. The fllwing sectins summarize these cmments based n the particular EA Prject they pertain t. This dcument prvides a summary f the event and the key cncerns and pprtunities discussed with the cmmunity. Cmments Heard Casablanca Bulevard/GO Statin Access EA: Existing speeding cncerns were a key issue alng the crridr particularly nrth f Livingstn Avenue, with a need nted fr traffic calming. Driveway accesses particularly fr the 4-5 prperties directly suth f the CN Rail (east side f Casablanca) a majr cncern at present. Desire t see active transprtatin cnnectins, with sme cncern abut integratin and safety.

3 Drainage issues n bth sides f the crridr are t be investigated as part f the EA prcess. Supprt fr a widening t three lanes (center turning lane) suth f Livingstn Avenue. Cncern abut the design f the intersectin f Livingstn Ave and Casablanca Bulevard including the size f intersectin, safety and queueing. Agreement with the prblems and pprtunities identified n the PIC bards. Safety an issue fr cyclists and pedestrians, especially crssing the QEW. Traffic prblem (heavy vlumes) at Main Street West / Casablanca Bulevard intersectin during turist seasn and when QEW is cngested. Mst cncerns related t prperty wner adjacent t crridr understanding what, if any, prperty impacts wuld be realized. Nise was a particular cncern given the ptential significant increase in traffic alng Casablanca Bulevard. The ptential implementatin f a Rail Grade separatin at the CN Rail crssing was viewed with cncern fr hmewners living adjacent t the Rail crridr whse backyards and driveways wuld be impacted. Sme residents felt it wuld be needed given the wait times at the crssing. Cncern that a sidewalk r active transprtatin rute culd present a safety hazard given the number f driveways accessing directly nt Casablanca Bulevard. Active mde cnnectins acrss QEW and t future GO Statin psitively received. The cnsideratin f a right-hand turning lane travelling eastbund n Casablanca Bulevard nt Livingstn Avenue was suggested. Many agreed that imprvements t the crridr are needed (t imprve peratins, design, and ptentially widening the crridr). Livingstn Avenue EA/East-West Cnnectin: Cncerns were raised abut cnservatin f the Irish Grve wdlt lcated alng the Livingstn Avenue Right-f-Way. Main Street West and Suth Service Rad were supprted as alternative east-west cnnectins t be cnsidered fr imprvement t supprt the transprtatin netwrk. The status f the Irish Grve wdlt as a Specialty Crp area under the Grwth Plan fr the Greater Glden Hrseshe (2017) prvides prtectins t restrict develpment including infrastructure, except where n reasnable alternative can be fund t supprt a key need. Supprt was expressed fr an east-west cnnectin and fr cmpletin f the Livingstn Avenue crridr, feeling that Main St. West is becming mre cngested and will cntinue t fill up in future. Current speed limits and safety issues related t speeding were a key cncern raised particularly alng Main St. West.

4 The name f the prject (Livingstn Avenue Extensin) was suggested t be reviewed t better represent the nature f the study, which is lking at east-west cnnectins and nt nly cnsidering the Livingstn Avenue extensin. Psitive feedback fr a future facility nly being tw travel lanes with accmmdatin fr active mdes n ne side (westbund side, adjacent t the Irish Grve Wdlt). Cncern abut prtectin f the Wdlt and hmewners if Livingstn Avenue is extended, with questins abut ptential safety and buffering measures that wuld be implemented. The ptential impacts t the Winstn Neighburhd as a result f a cnnectin t Oakes Rad was raised, with cncern fr ptentially increased traffic in an area that is already facing speeding and traffic management issues. GO Statin Design Sme cncern that there are nt enugh parking spts allcated fr pening day. Request fr imprved clarity n whether parking is needed suth f the Rail track as part f the mdelling fr the study. Cncern abut lcatin f access pints n Suth Service Rad and Casablanca Bulevard and ptential fr queueing/accidents. General Cmments The criteria that will be used t evaluate the design alternatives and select the preferred alternative were discussed, including envirnmental, transprtatin effectiveness, safety, cst, utilities, all branches f engineering, sci-ecnmic, and s n. Suggested additinal criteria/fcus n criteria fr evaluatin f alternatives/decisin-making included: pedestrian/cyclist safety (make mre prminent), nise, scietal impacts including lifestyle disruptins and safety, cultural heritage preservatin. Cncern abut the linking f the tw EA prjects and cncern abut the ability t fully engage the cmmunity in decisin making particularly n the Livingstn Avenue Extensin. Cncern that the space at the intersectin f Casablanca Bulevard and Livingstn Avenue seems t limited t supprt the number f lanes being suggested t meet at this pint, namely 4 lanes transitining t 3 lanes suth f Livingstn Avenue travelling nrth-suth and 2 lanes cntinuus travelling eastwest. The implicatins f the Prvincial Electins and ptential that service f GO Train t Grimsby may be reviewed was raised as a cncern. Cnfirmatin that a nise study is being cmpleted was requested and prvided

5 Nte frm a cmmunity member that the nging results f cncurrent envirnmental studies being initiated by the Regin related t agriculture and ther natural heritage aspects shuld be included in the EA cnsideratins. Infrmatin n the cst f the prject was requested, with a high level summary prvided indicating that bth EAs are being cmpleted fr apprximately $1 Millin and the Livingstn Avenue cmpnent representing apprximately 25% f this cst. The imprtance f cmmunity input and a transparent prcess was highlighted by cncerns abut prviding an impartial prcess t decisin-making. The cmments and feedback received will be utilized t refine the alternative slutins and develp the criteria fr assessing the alternative designs as the prject mves frward. T submit a cmment, please cntact: Carlyn Ryall Paul MacLed, P.Eng. Directr, Transprtatin Services Prject Manager Niagara Regin Dilln Cnsulting Limited ext ext 2317 carlyn.ryall@niagararegin.ca pmacled@dilln.ca