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TO: |
Mayor and
Members of Council |
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FROM: |
Alan Brown,
Director of Engineering |
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PREPARED
BY: |
Allan
Arbuckle, Manager of Infrastructure & Capital Works |
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DATE
OF MEETING: |
2004-May-17 |
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SUBJECT: |
Sciberras Road
Extension Class
Environmental Assessment |
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT
the report entitled Sciberras Road Extension Class Environmental Assessment be
received;
AND
THAT the preferred alternative for the Sciberras Road extension from Highway 7
to approximately 140 metres south of the Rouge River as detailed in the
Environmental Study Report be endorsed;
AND THAT Engineering Department staff be
authorized to file the Environmental Study Report for the 30-day public review
commencing May 28, 2004.
PURPOSE:
The purpose of this report is to seek Council’s endorsement of the preferred alternative for the extension of Sciberras Road from Highway 7 southerly to approximately 140 metres south of the Rouge River including a crossing of the Rouge River.
BACKGROUND:
Previous Studies In Support of Sciberras Road Extension
The need for a southerly extension of Sciberras Road and the development
of an east-west collector road (Riverside Drive) between Warden Avenue and the
Sciberras Road extension has been identified in a number of previously
completed transportation studies including the 1994 Markham Transportation
Planning Study and the 2002 Markham Centre Transportation Assessment as key
components of the Markham Centre transportation network.
In
October 2000, iTrans Consulting Inc. was retained by the Town to carry out a
Needs and Justification Assessment for the extension of Sciberras Road and for the construction of a
new east-west roadway, Riverside Drive, lying between Highway 7 and the Rouge River.
This assessment was prepared as a part of the development of the Sciberras Road
Community Structure Plan which was undertaken to address transportation,
environmental and community structure needs in the Sciberras Road area in
preparation for an Ontario Municipal Board hearing requested by the owner of
the property located on the south side of Highway 7 opposite the existing
Sciberras Road intersection.
The
Sciberras Road Community Structure Plan and the supporting Sciberras
Road/Riverside Drive Needs and Justification Report were presented to and
endorsed by Council in February of 2001. The Needs and Justification Study
confirmed the need for an extension of Sciberras Road between Highway 7 and
Enterprise Drive, presented an evaluation of alternative alignments for this
extension and recommended a preferred alternative alignment. Additional environmental, hydraulic and
structural engineering work and consultation with the Toronto Region
Conservation Authority was required to more accurately define the location,
size and cost of the Rouge River crossing structure. An Environmental Study Report which
incorporates the background work and recommendations of the Needs and
Justification Report and the final Rouge River crossing structure
recommendations has now been completed.
Property Acquisition
The
construction of the Sciberras Road extension in the preferred alignment will
require the acquisition of property from a total of four land owners in the
area. The largest of these property acquisitions is required from the property
located on the south side of Highway 7 directly opposite the existing Sciberras
Road intersection with Highway 7, designated as #4177 Highway 7.
On the basis of Council endorsement of the
recommended alignment of the roadway as presented in the Needs and
Justification Report and in the Sciberras Road Community Structure Plan, the
Town purchased the property at # 4177
Highway 7 in 2002 as a part of the Ontario Municipal Board Hearing settlement.
The buildings on the property have since been removed and a cleanup of the site
has been completed. The cost of this
and other holdout properties required for construction of Sciberras
Road/Riverside Drive will be included in the Area Specific Development Charge
By-law for this area.
Public Consultation
In accordance
with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, a Public
Information Centre was held on December 5, 2000 as part of the Need and
Justification study phase of the project.
Stakeholders, review agencies and affected property owners were invited
to attend to review preliminary alternative alignments for the Sciberras Road
extension (Attachment C to F). A second Public Information Centre was held on
September 17, 2001 in conjunction with the public meeting for the Sciberras
Road Community Structure Plan to present details of the preferred alternative.
Notice of these meetings were advertised in the local newspaper and delivered
to all property owners in the study area.
DISCUSSION;
Recommended Alternative
The recommended alternative for the alignment of the Sciberras Road extension is shown on Attachment “B”. The main components of the extension include the following:
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A 27 m right-of-way with an urban cross-section
having three through traffic lanes, two 1.5 m bike lanes and left turn lanes
between Highway 7 and the proposed
Riverside Drive intersection.
·
A 21 m right-of-way with an urban cross-section
having two through traffic lanes, two 1.5 m bike lanes from the proposed
Riverside Drive intersection to the south limit of the study area.
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A 119 m long, three span concrete structure
crossing the Rouge River which will accommodate wildlife passage through the
Rouge River valley, accommodate flood flows, protect the meander belt of the
river and leave the low flow channel of the valley untouched.
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The installation of traffic control signals at
the Highway 7 intersection including minor widenings and realignments of Highway 7 and Sciberras Road.
Project Schedule
FINANCIAL
CONSIDERATIONS:
The
total cost for the construction of the Sciberras Road extension, including the
Rouge River crossing is estimated at approximately $ 3.8 million including
engineering and contingencies. The cost of constructing this road extension
will be included in the Markham Centre Area Specific and Town Wide Development
Charge by-laws.
BUSINESS
UNITS CONSULTED AND AFFECTED:
The Planning Department has
reviewed this report and their comments have been incorporated.
ATTACHMENTS:
“A” Site
Location
“B” Preferred
Alternative
“C to F”
Alternative Alignment
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Alan Brown, C.E.T. Director of Engineering |
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Jim Baird, M.C.I.P., R.P.P. Commissioner of Development Services |
Q:\Development\Engineering\REPORTS\2004\May\Sciberras
Road Extension.doc RSC