Notice of Completion of Environmental Study Report - New Highway 401 Road Crossing

Notice of Completion of Environmental Study Report
New Highway 401 Road Crossing
from Notion Road to Squires Beach Road
Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study

Study Overview

The City of Pickering and Pickering Developments Inc. have completed a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for a new Highway 401 crossing to connect Notion Road and Squires Beach Road, in the City of Pickering, Region of Durham (see map). The need for a new road crossing to link Notion Road with Squires Beach Road for vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists was identified in the City of Pickering Official Plan, Edition 8 (2018), the Town of Ajax Official Plan (2016), the Region of Durham Official Plan (2017), and the Region of Durham Transportation Master Plan (2017).

The aim of this Project is to provide improved road network connectivity, capacity and active transportation to support continued growth in the City of Pickering and bring relief to the existing road infrastructure. The study also supports the development of lands located south of Highway 401 and the rail corridor, west of Church Street South, east of a Canadian National Railway spur line, and north of Bayly Street.

The Process and Outcome

This Study was conducted in accordance with the planning and design process for Schedule ‘C’ projects, as outlined in the Municipal Class EA process (Municipal Engineers Association, October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011 and 2015), which is approved under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (R.S.O. 1990, c. E.18). An Environmental Study Report (ESR) has been prepared. It describes the need for the Project, the evaluation of alternative solutions, evaluation of alternative design concepts for the preferred solution, and recommends a preferred design concept for the new road crossing. Potential impacts associated with the preferred design concept, and mitigation measures to reduce these impacts have also been assessed. The ESR also provides a record of consultation undertaken throughout the Study.

The preferred design concept is a bridge crossing of Highway 401 and the rail corridor, with a sidewalk and a multi-use path. Notion Road and Squires Beach Road will be realigned slightly to the west and elevated on the approaches to the bridge. Pickering Parkway will be realigned slightly to the south on the approach to Notion Road.

Environmental Study Report Review

This Notice places the ESR on the public record for review and comment for thirty (30) calendar days from October 18 to November 18, 2019 at the locations indicated below.

Review Locations:

Pickering City Hall – Clerk’s Office
One The Esplanade
Pickering, ON L1V 6K7
Tel: 905.683.2760
Monday to Friday: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Pickering Public Library (Central)
One The Esplanade
Pickering, ON L1V 6K7
Tel: 905.831.6265
Monday to Friday 9:30 am to 9:00 pm, Saturday 9:00 am to 5:00 pm

The ESR is also available on the Project webpage at: pickering.ca/hwy401crossing

Interested persons may provide written comments to the Project Team representatives listed below within the review period.

Nadeem Zahoor, P. Eng., M.Eng.
Transportation Engineer, City of Pickering
One The Esplanade
Pickering, ON L1V 6K7
Tel: 905.420.4660 ext. 2213
Email: nzahoor@pickering.ca

Kevin Phillips, P.Eng.
Consultant Project Manager, AECOM
4th Floor, 30 Leek Crescent
Richmond Hill, ON L4B 4N4
Tel: 905.882.3526 Email: Kevin.Phillips@aecom.com

Part II Order Requests

If concerns regarding the Project remain unresolved after consulting with the Project Team, a person can request that the Project be subject to a Part II Order (elevated to an Individual EA) by the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. Part II Order requests must be made by completing the Part II Order Request Form. The form can be found at the following link by searching “Part II Order Request” under Quick Search for Forms: www.forms.ssb.gov.on.ca

The completed form and any supporting information you would like to provide must be provided to the following contacts by November 18, 2019:

Minister, Honourable Jeff Yurek
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
777 Bay Street, 5th Floor
Toronto, ON M7A 2J3
Tel.: 416.314.6790

Director, Environmental Assessment and Permissions Branch
Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks
135 St Clair Ave W, 1st Floor
Toronto, ON M4V 1P5
enviropermissions@ontario.ca

Project Team representatives as noted above.

Issue Date: October 17, 2019

Information will be collected in accordance with the Municipal Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.