The Regional Municipality of Halton Report To: From: Chair and Members of the Planning and Public Works Committee Tim Dennis, P. Eng., Acting Commissioner, Public Works Date: May 21, 2014 Report No. - Re: PW-24-14 - Ministry of Transportation - Southern Highways Program 2013-2017 RECOMMENDATION 1. THAT Report No. PW-24-14 re: Ministry of Transportation - Southern Highways Program 2013 to 2017 be received for information. 2. THAT the Regional Clerk forward a copy of Report No. PW-24-14 to the Ministry of Transportation, the City of Burlington, the Town of Halton Hills, the Town of Milton, and the Town of Oakville for their information. REPORT Executive Summary In November 2013, the Ministry of Transportation published the Southern Highways Program which outlines the highway improvement plans for Southern Ontario from 2013 to 2017. The Southern Highways Program contains 52 kilometres of new highway construction (including eight new bridges) and 432 kilometres of rehabilitation projects (including 112 bridge rehabilitations) within the next five years. Within Halton Region, rehabilitation projects have been identified in the Highway 403, 401 and corridors. The Southern Highways Program also provides a list of projects that are planned beyond 2017 including, widening of Highways 403, 401, and. Planning studies beyond 2017 identified included the Greater Toronto Area West corridor and Niagara to Greater Toronto Area corridor. In February 2014, the Ministry of Transportation issued the Notice of Study Commencement for Stage Two of the Greater Toronto Area West Transportation Corridor Route Planning and Environmental Assessment Study. 1
Background In November 2013, the Ministry of Transportation released the latest Southern Highways Program for 2013 to 2017. The Southern Highways Program is a five-year highway improvement plan for widening and rehabilitation of highways and bridges in Southern Ontario. The program also identifies a list of projects that represents planning beyond 2017 to support future growth and transportation needs in Southern Ontario. As outlined in the Southern Highways Program, the improvement program for 2013 to 2017 contains 52 kilometres of new highway construction, eight new bridges and 432 kilometres of rehabilitation projects (including 112 bridge rehabilitations). The Southern Highways Program notes that in 2013/2014, the Ontario government will be investing $2.2 billion to repair and expand provincial highways and bridges, with $1.72 billion for Southern Ontario, creating or sustaining more than 17,000 direct and indirect jobs. Discussion Planning 2013-2017 Within Halton Region, the Southern Highways Program 2013-2017 identified 10 rehabilitation projects within the Highway 401,403 and corridors. These projects are summarized in Table 1 and Table 2 below. For the projects that fall within the 2015-2017 period, no specific timing was provided. With respect to highway expansion no projects were identified within Halton Region for 2013 to 2017. It should be noted, as outlined in the Southern Highways Program, that the timing of projects identified in Table 1 and 2 may be subject to change based on funding, planning, design, environmental approval, property acquisition, and construction requirements. Table 1 Rehabilitation Projects 2013 to 2014 Highway Status Location Type of Work 401 Planned 403 Planned 403 Underway Highway 6, Morrison to Wellington County / Halton Boundary Road 1km west of Winston Churchill Blvd (RR19) to 1.3 km west of Ford Drive (RR13), Halton/Peel King Road, Waterdown Road, Lemonville Road, Snake Road, Halton/Hamilton *Target Completion Date Project Length (km) Resurfacing 2014 7 Resurfacing 2014 6 Bridge Rehabilitation 2013 Planned Westbound lanes near Brant Street (RR18), Halton Operational Improvements 2013 1 Planned Burlington Bay Skyway, Toronto Bound, Halton / Hamilton Bridge Rehabilitation 2016 7 Underway Rockwood to Halton Rd. 32 (RR32), Wellington County/Halton Resurfacing and bridge rehabilitation *As noted in the Ministry of Transportation - Southern Highway Program 2013-2017 2013 4 2
Table 2 Rehabilitation Projects 2015 2017 Highway Location Type of Work Project Length (km) 401 Trafalgar Road (RR3) to Martin Street (RR25), Halton Resurfacing and bridge rehabilitation 403 CPR Subway and Highway 403 eastbound off ramp to Highway 6, Hamilton/Halton Dorval Drive (RR17), Trafalgar Road (RR3), Winston Churchill Blvd (RR19), Halton/Peel /Highway 403/Ford Drive interchange (RR13), Halton Burlington Bay Skyway, Toronto Bound, Burlington/Hamilton Appleby Line(RR20), Burloak Drive(RR21), Walkers Line, Halton In 2013, the Ministry of Transportation developed a strategy for rehabilitation or replacement of 13 bridges along Highway 401 between Trafalgar Road (Regional Road 3) and the Halton Region boundary. Staff participated in development of the strategy and has requested the opportunity to review and comment on the Ministry s Traffic Control and Staging Plans for each project prior to implementation. Planning Beyond 2017 Within Halton, the five-year improvement plan as outlined in the Southern Highways Program focuses primarily on rehabilitation projects. However, the Southern Highways Program provides a list of projects beyond 2017 to support future growth and transportation needs in Southern Ontario. It is noted in the Southern Highways Program that these projects are still subject to further study and prioritization. Within Halton Region, these projects include the following: Greater Toronto Area West Corridor Planning, Preliminary Design and Environmental Assessment Study; Niagara to Greater Toronto Area Preliminary Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment Study; Highway 401 Regional Road 25 to Trafalgar Road and Trafalgar Road to Credit River Bridge (HOV), Halton/Peel (Southern Highways Program Notes: Project currently approved for construction beyond 2017); Highway 401 Cambridge to Halton Region Boundary; Highway 403 from to Highway 407, Halton/Peel Highway 403 Interchange; from Highway 403 to Highway 427, Halton/Peel 3
The following Environmental Assessment Studies have been recently undertaken by the Ministry of Transportation in the Highway 401,403 and corridors. Staff have participated and will continue to work with the Ministry of Transportation as these projects progress to design and construction. Highway 403 and from Trafalgar Road to Winston Churchill Boulevard (Regional Road 19) Environmental Assessment Study and Preliminary Design for Improvements. Highway 401 from east of the Credit River to Trafalgar Road Environmental Assessment Study and Preliminary Design for Improvements. Highway 401 from Trafalgar Road to Regional Road 25 Environmental Assessment Report and Preliminary Design. In February 2014, the Ministry of Transportation initiated Stage Two of the Environmental Assessment Study for the Greater Toronto Area West Corridor. Stage two of the study will focus on identifying the route and developing the preliminary design for a new transportation corridor within the previously identified Route Planning Study Area. The new transportation corridor will include: a 400 series highway, a transit-way and goods movement priority features. In addition, interchange locations will be selected and developed. Staff will continue to work with the Ministry of Transportation as Stage Two of this study is developed and will report to Council at key study milestones. In 2013 through Report PW-51-13, staff reported to Council regarding the Niagara to Greater Toronto Area Corridor Planning and Environmental Assessment Study - Final Transportation Development Strategy (September 2013). Staff will continue to monitor progress regarding the Niagara to Greater Toronto Area and will report to Council as the Ministry of Transportation progresses to the next stages of study. FINANCIAL/PROGRAM IMPLICATIONS The cost of reviews undertaken to evaluate the Province s work is funded through project R2262A - Ontario Ministry of Transportation Highway Studies. Sufficient funding is available within the approved budget to complete the required work. 4
RELATIONSHIP TO HALTON REGION S 2011-2014 ACTION PLAN Key Initiative Advocate to the Province on road and transportation matters Priority Area Transportation Plan, construct and maintain a regional transportation system that includes 900 lane km of major arterial roadways, signalized intersections, lighting, signs, 122 bridges and structures. Respectfully submitted, Tim Dennis P. Eng. Acting Commissioner, Public Works Approved by Jane MacCaskill Chief Administrative Officer If you have any questions on the content of this report, please contact: Tim Dennis Tel. # 7775 Maureen Van Ravens Tel. # 7327 Patrick Monaghan Tel. # 7213 Attachments: None 5