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Engineering Department TO: Community Services Committee

SUBJECT: Proposed Fairview-Harvester Connection Through Sherwood Forest Park

Report Number: E- 34- 10 File Number(s): 795-01

Report Date: March 3, 2010 Ward(s) Affected: 1 2 3 4 5 6 All

Date to Committee: March 31, 2010 Date to Council: April 12, 2010

Recommendation: APPROVE protection of the roadway right-of-way through Sherwood Forest Park, and south of Harvester Road, connecting Fairview Street to Harvester Road for a future (2021+) two lane overpass connection, with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities;

AUTHORIZE staff to take into consideration, development of a future roadway in any redevelopment plans for Sherwood Forest Park.

Purpose: Address goal, action or initiative in strategic plan

Establish new or revised policy or service standard

Respond to legislation

Respond to staff direction

Address other area of responsibility

The purpose of this report is to update Committee on information pertaining to the proposed Fairview Street / Harvester Road connection over the CN main railway line east of Appleby Line and south of the QEW at Sherwood Forest Park. This report was requested by Council at its meeting #10-09 on June 15th, 2009:

THAT the Director of Engineering be directed to report back to the July 15, 2009 Community & Corporate Services Committee meeting on alternatives to the Harvester

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Road/Fairview Street connections including the approximate costs of alternatives.

At the July 15, 2009 CCS meeting a memo was provided to Committee that Report E45/09 would be brought forward later in the fall. Consideration of Report E45/09 was deferred at the Committee meeting on December 9, 2009.

Reference to Strategic Plan:

N/A

Background: Construction of the proposed Fairview/Harvester connection, if and when required in the future, would support Transportation and Transit Strategic Actions 8.1 and 8.2. Strategic Action 8.1: Build infrastructure to support the city’s transportation demands, optimizing traffic flow and encourage alternative modes of transportation. Strategic Action 8.2: Pursue and support transportation network improvements in the Hamilton West GTA area and improvements to the inter-regional road network, highway access and transit services to mitigate traffic congestion on city roadways.

Discussion:

This section provides an overview of the key issues surrounding the proposed Fairview/Harvester connection. History / Rationale for Connection

The proposed Fairview/Harvester connection was first identified in 1969 in the Town of Burlington Traffic Planning Report (1965-1985) completed by Damas & Smith Limited, Consulting Engineers. Overall, the east/west arterial road connections between Burlington and Oakville were identified to be important. In the Damas & Smith report the Fairview/Harvester connection was envisioned to be a six (6) lane arterial road connecting to a six (6) lane arterial road in Oakville. It should be noted that in the 1969 report Burlington was envisioned to grow to a population of 166,000 by 1985, whereas Burlington just recently grew to this size. Following the completion of the Damas & Smith study the history/rationale for the proposed Fairview/Harvester connection may be summarized as follows:

1971 – City Official Plan #49 – OP #49 states that the City will implement the Damas & Smith study, but the Fairview/Harvester connection is not illustrated on any OP map, since the connection was envisioned to be required outside of the planning period.

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1985 – Amendment #114 to the Official Plan – Amendment #114 was a Provincial OP amendment to help ensure that lands for public right-of-ways were protected. Map 3 associated with Amendment #114 illustrates the proposed Fairview/Harvester connection and shows Plains Road and Fairview, including the Fairview/Harvester connection, as a Primary Arterial road in the Region of Halton.

The Fairview/Connection is currently illustrated on Schedule J in the City’s OP.

A capital project to construct the Fairview/Harvester connection has not been included in prior budgets, nor the 2010 Capital Budget and Forecast, since sufficient capacity has remained over the years in the transportation network in this area. Further, the connection has been envisioned to be required some time after the 10 year capital budget planning period. Additional background information for the area in and around the proposed Fairview/Harvester connection may be summarized as follows.

The City of Burlington Cycling Master Plan assumes the Fairview/Harvester connection will be in place over the long term linking lands north of the QEW to Sherwood Forest Park, Appleby GO station and existing and future bike trails in the south.

The Town of Oakville plans to extend Wyecroft Road over Bronte Creek as part of its capital program. The project is currently planned for 2015. The extension of Wyecroft Road over Bronte Creek was also proposed in the 1969 study.

The Town of Oakville Active Transportation Master Plan Study (final report dated September 2009) identifies a proposed Wyecroft Road bike lane link to Burlington at Harvester Road. Promoting bike traffic to Harvester Road will increase bike traffic in Burlington, including over the proposed Fairview Harvester connection.

The Region of Halton has a 900 mm sanitary sewer located within the ROW. Roadway Capital Projects

As noted above, a capital project to construct the proposed Fairview/Harvester connection has not been proposed in prior capital budgets as sufficient capacity has remained in the transportation network in this area. Past capital projects in the area have helped to provide sufficient transportation capacity. Recent infrastructure improvements since 2000 have included:

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Appleby Line – south bound right turn lane added to improve traffic movement heading west bound on Harvester Road (completed in 2009);

Appleby Line – north bound right turn lane to Harvester Road added in 2004; and

Harvester Road – west bound right turn lane to Appleby northbound added in 2008.

Proposed infrastructure upgrades in the 2010 Capital Budget and Forecast, are summarized in Table 1 and Figure 1.

Table 1 – Proposed Roadway Works Included in 2010 Capital Budget and Forecast

Year

# on Fig 1

Description of Works

2010 1 Fairview – dual left turn lanes (to Appleby north bound) currently utility relocations being completed. Project to be tendered near completion of utility relocations.

2010 2 Harvester Road Phase 1 – Century Drive to Syscon Road – Reconstruction with removal of S-Bend – includes changing the existing 5-lane cross section to a 4-lane cross section with bike lanes

2011 3 Harvester Road Phase 2 – South Service Road to Century Drive – Minor road reconstruction and widening. This project primarily provides benefits for pedestrians and cyclists in addition to providing new asphalt.

2010 4 Appleby Line at Harvester Road –Class EA and Land Acquisition for intersection improvements

2013 5 Appleby Line at Harvester Road – Design and construction of intersection improvements

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FIGURE 1 – PROPOSED ROADWAY WORKS INCLUDED IN 2009 CAPITAL BUDGET AND FORECAST

Community Services Division Engineering Department

SHERWOOD FOREST PARK

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Transportation Analysis Without and With Fairview/Harvester Connection

The Engineering Department retained iTrans Consulting Inc. to undertake some high level transportation analysis for this review. The year 2021 was selected for the analysis as 2021 was the final year analyzed in the recent 2009 DC study and hence data was available for 2021. Without the Fairview/Harvester connection the transportation network is anticipated to function as outlined below.

Fairview Street, Harvester Road, Appleby Line and Burloak Drive are not at full capacity.

QEW (with 8 lane cross section which is currently under construction) will be the most constrained transportation link in the area. In this area of the QEW traffic volumes are expected to rise from 120,000 vpd (vehicles per day) in 2009 rising to 150,000 vpd in 2021. The approximate capacity of the QEW with 8 lanes under ideal conditions is 160,000 vpd.

Regular diversions from the QEW (due to highway incidents and congestion) to local streets are anticipated to cause increasing congestion on local roads in the 2021 timeframe and beyond. It is anticipated by staff that the most congested areas will be the Appleby/Harvester and Appleby/Fairview intersections.

Projected demands for the QEW and Harvester/Fairview are expected to continue to grow and could reach congested levels in the 2031 time frame. With the Fairview/Harvester connection the following points summarize the transportation network.

East-west traffic flow would function more smoothly with an overpass or underpass through Sherwood Forest Park as there would be less congestion at intersections for left turn movements.

An overpass or underpass through Sherwood Forest Park would be in line with the Burlington Cycling Master Plan and would improve cycling and pedestrian linkages.

Emergency response times would be improved with an overpass or underpass through Sherwood Forest Park. Without a roadway connection between Fairview and Harvester there would only be one roadway (i.e. Fairview) for emergency vehicles to access Sherwood Forest Park and the residences and other urban developments on either side of Fairview Street east of Appleby Line. With a roadway connection emergency vehicles would be able to approach this area from both the east and west.

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The connection would help Burlington Transit service the south east end of Burlington more efficiently, and would help to reduce bus traffic through the Appleby/Fairview intersection.

Inter-municipal transit service has the potential to be enhanced with an additional east/west link between Burlington and Oakville.

Fairview/Harvester Connection Alternative Designs Alternative means of connecting Fairview and Harvester through Sherwood Forest Park are summarized in Table 2.

Table 2 – Fairview/Harvester Connection Alternatives

Alternative

Estimated Cost

(millions)

Overpass Alternatives

4 lane with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities 12

2 lane with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities 8

Bike / pedestrian facility 3

Underpass Alternatives

4 lane with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities 14

2 lane bike lanes and pedestrian facilities 10

With the Fairview/Harvester connection in place, costs for the re-development of Sherwood Forest Park are estimated to increase by approximately $450,000 as additional infrastructure needs to be put in place to move people to allow the park to function around a grade-separation. Additional details are provided in the Section “Impacts on Sherwood Forest Park.” Alternatives to Proposed Fairview/Harvester Connection At this time no other works are currently proposed along Fairview/Harvester between Appleby Line and Burloak Drive above and beyond those summarized above in Table 1. However, it is envisioned that if the Fairview/Harvester connection through Sherwood Forest Park is never constructed, and if it becomes necessary to improve traffic flow in this area, the following works will be required (see Table 3 and Figure 2).

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Table 3 Anticipated Capital Projects if Fairview/Harvester Connection Is Not Constructed

# on

Figure 2

Project Description

Estimated

Cost (millions)

1

Appleby/Harvester - Intersection improvements, inclusive of nominal land acquisition (likely an additional west-bound dual left turn lane)

1.5

2

Appleby Line from Harvester to Fairview will likely need to be upgraded to six (6) lanes – no land acquisition required

1.0

3

Appleby/Fairview - Intersection improvements , inclusive of nominal land acquisition

1.0

4

Harvester Road from approximately Appleby Line to the existing S-Bend will need to be widened from a 4 lane cross section to a 6 lane cross section. A reconstruction of this area will require land purchases along approximately 1km of Harvester Road as the current public right-of-way is 86 feet and is too narrow to support a 6-lane cross-section with bikelanes and pedestrian facilities.

4.5

Total

8.0

Collectively, the works summarized in Table 3 are estimated to cost approximately $8,000,000. This cost is similar to the estimated amount to construct a 2 lane overpass through Sherwood Forest Park. Functionally, however, the above works would not benefit the transportation network as well as an overpass (or underpass) through Sherwood Forest Park for the reasons outlined earlier.

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FIGURE 2 – ALTERNATIVE CAPITAL WORKS TO THE PROPOSED

FAIRVIEW/HARVESTER CONNECTION

Community Services Division Engineering Department

SHERWOOD FOREST PARK

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Impacts on Sherwood Forest Park Impacts to Sherwood Forest Park were reviewed by Parks and Recreation staff with the right-of-way remaining in place, and with the right-of-way removed. With the roadway right-of-way remaining in place, the impacts to the park are as outlined below.

The park will be separated into two distinct parcels with isolation of the most westerly soccer field from the park proper.

There would need to be a reconsideration of the westerly portion of the site functions with the distinct separation into two parcels west of the right-of-way (i.e. parking and playing field).

The alignment of the main driveway would be pushed to the most westerly point of the park because of grade constraints with the road. This would also require the building of a longer internal driveway system within the park to move vehicular traffic around the site that is at an estimated cost of $450,000. To accommodate this driveway there is potential that a field would be lost and that at least one other field would have to be realigned.

The temporary field that is now located on the road allowance lands will be lost. If the road right-of-way is removed, the park can continue to remain with the same number of fields on the west side and no requirement to realign the driveway. The road allowance lands can be developed as a contiguous part of the park within the constraints of the underground servicing that runs through the park.

Summary Analysis The original 1969 traffic planning report recommended a six (6) lane Fairview/Harvester connection through Sherwood Forest Park. This recommendation was based on Burlington attaining a population of 166,000 by 1985, whereas Statistic Canada reports Burlington’s population to be 164,415 as of 2006. A six (6) lane connection does not appear to be warranted. In this report, two (2) and four (4) lane connections were considered as well as the alternative where the Fairview/Harvester connection is not constructed. A two (2) lane overpass is estimated to cost approximately $8 million, and increase overall park development costs by approximately $450,000. If the Fairview/Harvester connection is not constructed, required upgrades to the transportation network are estimated to cost approximately $8 million. Accordingly, estimated costs with and without the connection are similar.

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However, with the Fairview/Harvester connection:

The City of Burlington’s Cycling Master Plan is supported, as this plan assumes a Fairview/Harvester connection. Conversely, if the Fairview/Harvester road connection is not built, a stand alone bike/pedestrian connection is estimated to cost $3 million.

East-west traffic flow would function more smoothly;

Emergency response times would be improved;

Emergency access to Fairview Street east of Appleby Line would be possible with the construction of the Fairview/Harvester connection; and

Transit services would benefit.

Accordingly, it is concluded that the roadway right-of-way through Sherwood Forest Park, and south of Harvester Road, be protected for a future (2021+) two lane overpass connection, with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities.

Strategy/Process

Staff/Others Consulted:

Tom Eichenbaum X7795

Charlotte O’Hara-Griffin X7488

Rob Peachey X7722

Chris Glenn X7771

Doug Dalgarno X7672

Tony Bavota 905-333-0772

Donna Shepherd X7763

Options Considered

Options considered were discussed earlier.

Financial Matters:

Capital costs to construct the Fairview/Harvester connection are summarized in Table 2. Costs to construct alternative works to the Fairview/Harvester connection are summarized in Table 3 and total approximately $8 million (2009 dollars). In addition, it should also be noted that regardless of whether the Fairview/Harvester connection is constructed or not, it will likely become necessary at some point in the

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future to reconstruct Harvester Road from the S-Bend east to Burloak Drive from a 4-lane cross section (with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities) to a 6-lane cross section (with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities). This is estimated to cost approximately $3 million with and without the Fairview/Harvester connection. In the event that the Fairview/Harvester connection is not constructed, the opportunity exists to sell or lease all, or a portion, of the existing ROW north of the CNR mainline. Any land sale would have to ensure that the large Regional sanitary sewer currently located within the ROW is protected for.

Total Financial Impact

Financial matters were discussed earlier.

Source of Funding

The potential works outlined in Table 2 and Table 3 are not envisioned to be required within the current 10 year Capital Budget and Forecast, nor within the current Development Charges planning period. Accordingly, it is anticipated that the majority of funding for the works will be from non-development charge sources.

Environmental Matters:

At some point in the future, a Class Environmental Assessment Study would be required for the design and construction of a new grade separation and a Fairview/Harvester road connection.

Communication Matters:

During the Class Environmental Assessment for any future Fairview/Harvester connection, or other road works such as those outlined in Table 3, communication with the public will involve notices; public meetings and filing of reports for public review.

CONCLUSION: It is recommended that the roadway right-of-way through Sherwood Forest Park, and south of Harvester Road, be protected for a future (2021+) two lane overpass connection (with bike lanes and pedestrian facilities), and that any redevelopment plans for Sherwood Forest Park take into consideration the right-of-way being developed.

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Respectfully submitted, Philip Kelly, M.Sc., P.Eng. Manager of Development & Environmental Engineering 905-335-7600 Ext. 7576

Approvals: *required

*Department Head

City Treasurer General Manager City Manager

To be completed by the Clerks Department

Committee Disposition & Comments

01-Approved 02-Not Approved 03-Amended 04-Referred 06-Received & Filed 07-Withdrawn

Council Disposition & Comments

01-Approved 02-Not Approved 03-Amended 04-Referred 06-Received & Filed 07-Withdrawn

Appendices: A. B.

Notifications: (after Council decision)

Name Mailing or E-mail Address