TO: FROM: MEETING DATE: SUBJECT:

Members of the Committee of the Whole W. H. Jackson, Director of Utility Services March 11, 2013 USDIR13-001 Report US Approval pproval to Post Environmental nvironmental Study Report Widen/Reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street from Parkhill econstruct Reid Road West to the Parkway Right-of-Way

PURPOSE
A report to advise Council of the results of the Class Environmental Assessment to Widen/Reconstruct Chemong Road, (the Study) and request direction to post the Environmental Study Report (ESR) for the mandatory 30-day public review period in day accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process. icipal

RECOMMENDATIONS S
That Council approve the recommendation outlined in Report USDIR13 recommendations DIR13-001 dated March 11, 2013, of the Director of Utility Services, as follows: , a) b) That the presentation by AECOM on the matter of the Class Environmental Assessment to Widen/Reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street be received; That staff finalize the Class Environmental Assessment to Widen/Reconstruct taff Chemong Road/Reid Street and post the ESR for public review for the mandatory 30-day public review period in accordance with the provisions of the day Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process; and That staff notify owners of property identified for full or partial acquisition of the otify Study outcome and commence negotiations to acquire identified properties.

c)

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 2

BUDGET AND FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

Approval of the preferred recommendations and filing of the Environmental Study Report for the 30-day public notice period has no direct financial implications. Future Capital Budget submissions will include funds to implement the recommended design. Residential property acquisition can be accommodated within the approved capital budget for property acquisition, (2013 Capital Budget Reference Number 5-2.10). Each acquisition will be subject to the approval of City Council. The preliminary estimate used to establish the 2013 Capital Budget amount was $13.6M. The preliminary design work completed through the Class EA has refined the estimate to $17.7M, which includes $1.4M for over-sizing storm sewers in accordance with the Jackson Creek Flood Reduction Master Plan, approved by Council at its meeting on April 12, 2010 (Report USEC10-007 dated April 6, 2010). Accordingly, future budgets for the widening/reconstruction of Chemong Road/Reid Street will have to increase by about $2.7M.

BACKGROUND
City Council at its meeting on November 14, 2011 endorsed the Comprehensive Transportation Plan Update (Report USTR11-006, dated November 7, 2011), which included a recommendation to widen Chemong Road. In fact, widening of Chemong Road has been a recommendation in the Master Transportation Plan since 1990. North of The Parkway right-of-way, widening has been completed as adjacent lands have developed. However, the lack of significant development within the study area (Figure 1) has forced the City to initiate the widening through the Class EA process. The City has therefore undertaken this study to advance the planning and design of a widened Chemong Road. In 2010 Council approved the award of RFP P-18-10 for the Chemong Road/Reid Street Class EA to AECOM Canada Ltd. The purpose of this project was to verify the need for design improvements of Chemong Road and Reid Street throughout the study area and to complete a Municipal Class EA so that widening/reconstruction can take place as required.

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 3 Since the Study began, Council has endorsed several reports regarding purchase of residential property, potentially affected by the alternative alignments. City ownership of these properties was not a factor in the recommendation of the preferred alignment. These properties were recommended for purchase based on a comprehensive evaluation of design alternatives in accordance with the Municipal Class EA process that considered the full range of potential project impacts, and consideration for the wishes of individual property owners. Figure 1: Study Area

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 4 1. Chemong Road Class EA

To determine the preferred alternative for widening of Chemong Road and Reid Street, City Council on August 10, 2010 approved Report USDIR10-008 to retain AECOM to undertake a Schedule C Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) for reconstruction/widening of Chemong Road/Reid Street from Parkhill Road West to north of Sunset Boulevard. The Problem/Opportunity statement for this project consists of the following: Chemong Road has been recommended for widening to 5 lanes through previous studies An updated traffic assessment has shown that peak hour and Saturday peak traffic demands result in corridor congestion due to the lack of separate turning lanes at intersections/entrances The southbound left turn at the Chemong Road/Parkhill Road intersection experiences long delays during peak periods and cannot be signalized due to the grades A safety review has shown a significant potential for improvement through control of access and/or widening to provide separate turning lanes There is a need to improve facilities to support pedestrians using the Chemong Road corridor

The study commenced in September 2010 and the first Public Information Centre (PIC #1) was held on April 12, 2011. PIC #1 was well attended, with 66 attendees registering. As well as being invited to PIC #1, property owners and residents of potentially affected properties were invited to meet individually with the project team prior to the PIC. Twelve property owners were able to meet individually with the project team. PIC #2 was held on March 20, 2012 and was also well attended with 54 registered attendees. This PIC was repeated (PIC #2A) on April 12, 2012 to ensure all interested persons were able to participate. Thirty-two attendees registered at PIC #2A. Once again, property owners and residents were invited to meet individually with the project team prior to the PIC. Twenty-five property owners were able to meet individually with the project team.

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 5 2. Alternative Solutions

To address the Problem/Opportunity statement a number of different solutions, as listed below were developed and evaluated. a. b. c. d. e. f. Do Nothing Access Management Improve Transit/Transportation Demand Management Intersection Improvements Widening to Five Lanes (2-way left turn lane) Widen to Six Lanes

Following an analysis of the various solutions, it is recommended that a Hybrid Solution be used that includes a combination of the following: 3. Access Management to reduce number of current entrances/side road intersections along Chemong Road where feasible and beneficial Access Management strategies to control/limit new entrances to Chemong Road Widening to 5 lanes with a centre 2-way turning lane Operational improvements to the Chemong/Reid/Parkhill intersections

Alternative Designs

Various design alternatives of the recommended solution were developed and considered, including: a. b. b. c. d. e. f. g. h. i. j. Different access management opportunities for sections of Chemong Road Establishing a 26-metre right-of-way Establishing a 30-metre right-of-way Establishing a 36-metre right-of-way Widening about the centre line of the right-of-way Widening entirely to the east side of the right-of-way Widening entirely to the west side of the right-of-way Hybrid widening East vs West widening at Reid Street/Parkhill Road Intersection Minimal improvements at Reid Street/Parkhill Road Intersection Roundabout option

Also considered were options to address the portion of old Chemong Road (Reid Street to Parkhill Road West), consisting of: i. ii. iii. North end cul-de-sac Partial access to old Chemong Road Full access to old Chemong Road

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 6 Because the nature of the corridor varies from mixed commercial/residential to residential to commercial, each of the numerous alternatives above were evaluated based on the Problem/Opportunity statement, effects to the natural, social, cultural, built and economic environments for each of the various portions of the corridor. Significant public input was also received in response to the alternatives. This input was considered and factored into the decision making process, preliminary design and development of mitigating measures. Although the above methodology complicated the evaluation process, the end result is a comprehensive plan that incorporates all the uses and activities within the corridor. 4. Property Impacts

Of particular concern to the project team was the effect of the alternatives on privately owned commercial and residential properties. All of the alternatives evaluated have significant property impacts. Designs for each alternative were advanced to a point where specific property effects could be evaluated. To ensure property owners were aware and understood the effects and the process, the study team (AECOM, Utility Services and Planning staff) invited individual property owners to meet and discuss their concerns throughout the study. Several property owners, without solicitation by the City, expressed an interest in selling their property to the City, prior to completion of the Class EA. Recognizing these mutually beneficial purchases as the best possible outcome, the City has purchased 7 houses within the corridor. The recommended solution requires 16 residential properties in their entirety and an additional partial acquisition of 13 residential properties. There is the potential that as detailed design progresses the number of properties required may slightly increase or decrease as details are confirmed. The recommended solution also affects numerous commercial properties. North of Parkhill Road there are approximately 13 commercial properties affected by the solution although none will be displaced. South of Parkhill Road there will be 4 commercial properties affected by the solution of which up to two businesses could be displaced. The study team evaluated options to avoid displacing these businesses however; these options merely shifted the property impacts to other commercial and residential properties, or did not result in an improvement to the intersection conditions. Efforts are underway to preserve at least one of the displaced businesses on the same property, however the City is likely to incur significant costs in compensation either to preserve or displace the business.

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 7 Assuming Council endorses the Class EA, staff recommend efforts be initiated to acquire the remaining residential properties. This will not only avoid potential costly delays at the time of construction, but also eases the stress on property owners due to the uncertain timing of the project. 5. 5.1 Recommended Solution Access Management Strategy The Access Management Strategy (AMS) will guide future development access to Chemong Road as well as access from existing side roads and from existing businesses. The future access limitations will reduce the number and potential severity of vehicle conflicts, thereby improving function and safety of the corridor, at minimal cost to the City. The draft AMS recognizes the various land uses within the study area. North of Highland Road, the land use consists primarily of residential and apartment dwellings with limited commercial activity. In this area, AECOM recommends that left turns to/from Summerhill Drive be restricted by a centre median and a left turning lane be provided for access to Applegrove Avenue. Users of Summerhill Drive and other properties will still have full access to Chemong Road through Highland Road and Applegrove Avenue. Between Wolsely Street and Highland Road, the land use is almost entirely commercial. In this area the draft AMS makes no recommendations for immediate access changes given the potential impacts to current businesses and some of the challenges the City would face in implementing entrance consolidation. Rather, the addition of a centre left-turn lane will improve safety and traffic movements within the corridor. A future by-law is recommended to limit/consolidate entrances for properties that redevelop. As part of the reconstruction, some driveway entrances will be consolidated to reduce conflicts and the intersection of Bellevue Street will be upgraded to improve the operation of this intersection and the entrance to Brookdale Plaza. South of Wolsely Street, the area is mixed residential and commercial. AECOM recommends construction of a centre raised median to restrict left turns to/from Chemong Road/Reid Street. This will reduce vehicle conflict points and improve traffic movement on Chemong Road and Reid Street. This is anticipated to slightly reduce traffic diversion to Chesterfield Avenue and Downie Street compared to the full closure alternatives and minimizes the potential increase to EMS response time to residences on Aberdeen, Mason and Victoria Avenues. The centre median would restrict access to one business within this corridor.

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 8 In addition to the above, future strategies should be considered when reviewing new entrance requests or development applications for the Chemong Road corridor, as described below: New access points should be restricted to right-in/right-out unless there is a two way left turn lane on Chemong Road; All properties with frontage on Chemong Road should be restricted to only one entrance unless supported by a traffic study demonstrating the need for additional entrances; Commercial entrances on corner lots, should obtain access from the side road one additional right-in/right-out entrance may be considered from Chemong Road if supported by a traffic study; Adjacent properties should utilize shared entrances and enact appropriate easements to ensure access rights to each owner; Uncontrolled entrances within 65 metres of a signalized intersection shall be right-in/right-out and left turns should be restricted with raised median islands that extend 20 metres beyond entrance; and Residential driveway spacing (for new lots) should be maximized and one shared driveway shall be used for lots with less than 15 metre frontage.

5.2

Widening/Reconstruction Recommendation The recommended improvements vary throughout the corridor. The preliminary design concept is shown in Appendix A. Beginning in the south end of the corridor, the intersection of Reid Street and Parkhill Road West is recommended to be realigned to the east, with installation of dedicated left turning lanes. This important improvement will allow for the proposed changes to close access to old Chemong Road and eliminate the collision patterns for left turn vehicles at the Chemong Road / Parkhill Road intersection by providing dedicate left turn lanes at the Reid Street / Parkhill Road intersection that can accommodate advance green signal phasing to make this left turn safer and more effective. The improvement to this intersection is also expected to reduce short cutting of traffic through the Downie Street / Chesterfield Avenue neighbourhood. Reid Street, north of Parkhill Road is recommended to be widened to the east, to accommodate left turning lanes. North of Reid Street, Chemong Road to Wolsely Street is recommended to be widened to the west to accommodate sidewalks and a centre median (to restrict left turn access to side streets). Widening this portion of Chemong Road to the west and Reid Street to the east will improve the sharp curve at the Reid Street/Chemong Road intersection. This widening will result in the elimination of the existing service road providing access to the residential properties that front onto Chemong Road.

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 9 North of Wolsely Street and south of Highland Road, Chemong Road will be widened to the west to accommodate a centre turn lane and multi-use trail on the west side. The multi-use trail on the west side of Chemong Road replaces the on-road bicycle lanes that were originally recommended in the Transportation Plan Update to provide improved access between the Parkway Trail and commercial businesses to the south. This change to the design was implemented in response to concerns raised by the impacted property owners and helps to minimize the impact to commercial property and parking. While this still affects the available parking space at the commercial property on the west side, the project team has met with the property owners and believe a mutually agreeable solution can reached that provides the City with the means to achieve the project goals, but minimizes impacts to operating businesses. Signals are proposed for the Chemong Road/Highland Road intersection. This will assist with the high volume of left turning movements and is intended to reduce collision frequency and severity. North of Highland Road, Chemong Road will be widened to the west, to accommodate the multi-use trail, left turn lanes and a centre median to restrict left turn movements at Summerhill Drive. This will eliminate the current service road on the west side of Chemong Road which requires some modifications to driveway entrances and parking on Applegrove Avenue. The portion of old Chemong Road (Parkhill Road to Reid Street) is recommended to be terminated at Reid Street via a cul-de-sac. This will reduce traffic volumes on this two lane road and reduce collision frequency at the intersection with Parkhill Road and at Reid Street. In general, the main Chemong Road/Reid Street corridor will consist of 5-lanes (either two-way left or dedicate left turn lanes at intersections), centre medians to restrict left turn movements where appropriate, pedestrian/off-road cycling facilities and new signals at the Highland Road intersection. The reconstruction will also include flood protection measures identified and approved by Council (Report USEC10-007 dated April 6, 2010) in the Jackson Creek Flood Reduction Study.

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 10 6. Capital Cost Estimates

Preliminary cost estimates have been prepared based on the recommended design. Engineering and Design Property Acquisition (Compensation) Utility Relocation Construction Contract Administration and Inspection Total 7. Next Steps $ 710,000 $ 4,500,000 $ 1,010,000 $10,400,000 $ 1,100,000 $17,720,000

If Council endorses the recommended solution, the project team will finalize the ESR and post it for the mandatory 30-day review period in accordance with the Municipal Class EA process. Concurrently, staff will notify residential property owners of Councils decision with respect to this matter and begin negotiations with those who are interested. Staff will also continue negotiations with affected commercial property owners to clarify impacts, restoration and compensation measures. All property acquisitions will require further Council approval. Staff also proposes to move forward with a consulting assignment for the detailed design for the reconstruction of the Chemong Road corridor. Detailed design information will provide staff the necessary information to determine the recommended final configurations for the properties purchased to date or to be purchased so that the City can address the required changes, deal with these properties accordingly and cease ongoing maintenance costs. The detailed design work will also allow for the identification of surplus portions of properties not needed for the road widening that can be configured and/or issued for sale to recover some of the costs of the project. 8. Effects of other studies

The Comprehensive Transportation Plan, endorsed by Council at its meeting of November 14, 2011 (Report #USTR11-006) concluded that in addition to widening Chemong Road, construction of a new two-lane arterial road connecting Cumberland Avenue to Fairbairn Street utilizing The Parkway Corridor is required. To this end, a Class EA for The Parkway Corridor commenced in June, 2012. As part of the ongoing Parkway Corridor Class EA alternative routes for the needed road capacity are being evaluated. Given the uncertainty of the outcome of The Parkway Corridor Class EA, staff does not believe proceeding beyond detailed design and property acquisition for the Chemong Road project is appropriate at this time.

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 11 Upon completion of the Parkway Corridor Class EA, staff will report to Council through the capital budget process, or otherwise, on the implementation schedule for the Chemong Road/Reid Street widening.

SUMMARY
The Chemong Road/Reid Street Class EA study has determined widening to accommodate a left turn lane, realignment of the Parkhill Road West/Reid Street intersection, closing old Chemong Road, and an access management strategy is the preferred solution to address capacity/safety issues on Chemong Road and Reid Street. Submitted by, W. H. Jackson, P. Eng. Director Utility Services Contact Name: Robert Dunford Senior Project Manager Utility Services Department Phone: 705-742-7777 ext 1867 Toll Free: 1-855-738-3755 Fax: 705-876-4621 E-mail address: rjdunford@peterborough.ca Appendix A: Recommended Design

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 12 Appendix A: Recommended Design Edinburgh St to Aberdeen Ave

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 13 Appendix A: Recommended Design Aberdeen Ave to Bellevue St

Report USDIR13-001 Class EA to widen/ reconstruct Chemong Road/Reid Street Approval to Post ESR Page 14 Appendix A: Recommended Design Bellevue St to Parkway Right-of-way