February 26, 2010 Project Number: 109394

Agriculture Business Community

Chapters: Perth East, Perth South, Wilmot West
c/o 3649 Road 107
RR #2
Tavistock, Ontario
N0B 2R0

Re: Highway 7&8 Transportation Corridor Planning and Class EA Study (GWP 13-00-00)
Response to Public Information Centre (PIC) #3 Comments

Thank you for the comments you provided in your October 30, 2009 community report regarding the
above-noted project. Community and stakeholder input is an important component of the consultation
process for the Highway 7&8 Transportation Corridor Planning and Class EA Study. The continued
participation of the Agriculture Business Community in the study is appreciated.

Our responses to your individual comments were carefully reviewed and considered by our study
team, and they are presented under the same headings that you provided in your community report.

In response to requests from some stakeholders to see the broader picture with respect to input from
others, a complete set of comments and responses for all subjects identified by stakeholders will be
placed on the study web site shortly. The study team organized the comments received and our
responses into groups according to various subject areas (i.e., transportation problems and
opportunities, comments on corridor alternatives, concerns about impacts to farmland and farm
operations, etc.). Our response for each subject or group of subjects has been prepared to provide a
more thorough and complete response to address all comments we received on that subject.

In response to the comments received through the PIC #3 consultation process, the study team is
conducting a more detailed review of route alternatives in the Shakespeare area. This includes an
initial community workshop in March 2010 to support the development of a broader range of
Shakespeare-area highway route alternatives and refined criteria for their evaluation, with this
information presented for review and comment at an additional Public Information Centre to be held in
Shakespeare in the summer of 2010. The evaluation of route alternatives will follow PIC #3B after
stakeholder input has been considered. A preferred route will be presented at PIC #4 in late Fall
2010.

Further details about the strategy for revisiting alternatives in the Shakespeare area and the
upcoming community workshop on March 8, 2010 are available on the study web site.
Page 2
February 26, 2010

Evaluation Criteria

ABC Recommendation #1: The protection of agriculture lands should be the number one priority in
route selection.

Response to ABC Recommendation #1:

The assessment and evaluation of route alternatives will be based on over 60 criteria from four major
factor areas, specifically the natural environment, land use / socio-economic environment, cultural
environment and transportation factors. While the importance of agriculture within the study area is
understood, no one criterion will be paramount.

ABC Recommendation #2: ABC recommends the final route make use of existing roads and avoid
the use of agricultural lands.

Response to ABC Recommendation #2:

Opportunities to minimize impacts on agricultural lands / operations were considered during the
corridor generation and route generation phases of the study. The route alternatives currently under
consideration include sections of existing roads (i.e. sections of existing Highway 7&8, sections of
Lorne Avenue and segments of existing north-south Township roads such as Perth Road 110 and
Perth Road 125). Opportunities to further reduce / mitigate impacts to agricultural lands / operations
will be explored through subsequent design phases.

Evaluation Factor - Agriculture

ABC Recommendation #3: ABC recommends the MTO consultants need to develop and apply an
accurate inventory strategy to adequately define the impact on farm businesses along the corridor to
be used in their evaluation and selection of the preferred route.

Response to ABC Recommendations #3:

The study team appreciates the input received from the agricultural community regarding existing
farm businesses within the Analysis Area. The study team will continue to liaise with agricultural
landowners to ensure accurate information is available to undertake the assessment and evaluation
of the route alternatives and to support preliminary design activities.

Considerations in Road Design

ABC Recommendation #4: ABC recommends that during detailed route planning along the corridor
considerable effort be directed to minimize any barriers to the movement of agricultural equipment
and to retain the highest possible levels of unimpeded access via concession roads and regional
highways.
Page 3
February 26, 2010

Response to ABC Recommendation #4:

During the preliminary design phase of the study, the proposed treatment for each crossing road will
be determined in consultation with regional and municipal staff and emergency service personnel.
The proposed treatment for each crossing road will take into consideration the movement of
agricultural equipment and emergency service requirements as well as traffic demands, safety and
mobility.

ABC Recommendation #5: ABC recommends special attention be paid to turning lanes at grade
intersections and to wider and gentler shoulder designs, regardless of whether these features are
incorporated as ‘access management strategies’ for a future four-lane highway or even if the road
remains two lane but is eventually improved or repaved.

Response to ABC Recommendation #5:

During the preliminary design phase of the study, intersection requirements and the roadway cross
section, including the shoulder design / treatment, will be defined.

ABC Recommendation #6: ABC recommends that any future highway designs for 7/8 along the
existing corridor takes into special consideration the inevitable “mixed’ nature of traffic – cars, trucks,
and farm equipment – and for safety, that design features and signage be tailored to these mixed
needs.

Response to ABC Recommendations #6:

The design of the Highway 7&8 corridor will be based on current design standards and practices,
taking into consideration the mixed use traffic utilizing the corridor.

West of Stratford – Area of Special Interest

ABC Recommendation #7: ABC recommends that the section of the proposed Highway 7&8
Transportation Corridor west of Erie Street in Stratford needs to be identified as an Area of Special
Interest and further work needs to be completed to address these issues before MTO proceeds with
the selection of a preferred corridor and route in this part of the study area.

Response to ABC Recommendation #7:

The study team has reviewed the issues and concerns which were submitted regarding the proposed
corridor west of Erie Street. In response to the input received, the study team will be considering
other potential route options within this section of the preferred corridor.

Satisfactory Compensation

ABC Recommendation #8: ABC recommends the MTO initiate a study process to work with the
ABC in the development of compensation principles to be applied to agricultural business that will be
Page 4
February 26, 2010

affected by the highway development in and along the final route. The ABC brings the expertise of
this community to this important question and can assist the MTO in defining the study process and
clarifying issues faced by the agricultural business community. The MTO can educate the ABC
members in the responsibilities of the Province in the wise use of tax dollars in providing
compensation to landowners for highway development.

Response to ABC Recommendation #8:

As you are aware, the property acquisition process is a well established process with defined
requirements under the Expropriation Act. That said, MTO would welcome input from the ABC Group
on the property acquisition process which could be considered for future refinement of the process.

Drainage

ABC Recommendation #9: ABC recommends when route selection is complete, but certainly
before the Class EA study is finalized, all landowners along the route are systematically contacted by
the study team and all drains, both public and private, along the route are clearly identified for future
engineering input.

Response to ABC Recommendations #9:

During the detailed planning (route) phase, the study will consider the specific location/type/character
of bridges, major culverts, major channels, and major stormwater management facilities for drainage
along and across the right-of-way. During the preliminary design phase, the study will consider
drainage and hydrology engineering relative to channels, ditches, storm sewers and outlets/outfalls
for drainage of the roadway; stormwater management facilities; and hydraulics of bridges culverts and
water crossing inlets/outlets. This will include key elements to ensure feasibility of integration with
existing drainage systems and account for the quality and quantity of stormwater runoff.

Furthermore, during the preliminary design phase, the study team will systematically contact all
relevant landowners along the preferred route to identify both public and private drains to support
design work in subsequent design phases.

MTO recognizes that a number of farmers have concerns about agricultural tile drainage. The issue
of potential impacts and associated mitigation to/for agricultural tile drainage in specific farm fields will
be addressed during detail design, which would be part of subsequent MTO studies.

Sooner Rather Than Later

ABC Recommendation #10: ABC recommends MTO develop a strategy to facilitate moving forward
with new phases of highway design and development immediately after the Class EA study is
approved. Land acquisition in the stretches of heaviest use should be a preferred starting point.
Another possibility, where some work should be launched quickly, is to seek access to infrastructure
funding available for rehabilitation of roads and highways. A simple repaving of sections of the
current 7/8 would be beneficial to all highway uses for many years.
Page 5
February 26, 2010

Response to ABC Recommendation #10:

An implementation strategy will be developed for the recommended improvements later in the study
process. The strategy will include the determination of when and where the identified safety,
operational and capacity improvements should be implemented over the 30-year planning horizon.
However, it is important to note that the actual construction timing will be subject to the availability of
funding as the forecasted needs become realized.

Concluding Comments

Once again, thank you for the comments you provided and your interest in this study. We look
forward to your continued involvement in the study.

Sincerely,
AECOM Canada Ltd.

Brenda Jamieson, P. Eng.

Project Manager
Brenda.Jamieson@aecom.com

cc: C. Organ – MTO

J. Corcoran – MTO
F. Leech – AECOM