There are at least four major infrastructure changes that will be under consideration around the Mohawk College Transit Hub over the next decade include:
- Construction of the multi-modal hub (referred to herein as the transit hub)
- Construction of supporting infrastructure including one (1) new transit-only traffic signals
- Bicycle lanes on Fennell Avenue and West Fifth Street
- Implementation of rapid transit, potentially including dedicated bus lanes or LRT facilities
Although the latter two projects have been identified in the City’s long term plans and are being studied, there is no certainty on the timing of these projects. Therefore, the current exercise will focus on the transit hub and associated infrastructure (items 1 and 2), while accounting for bicycle lanes on the adjacent streets (i.e. by allowing for these in the R.O.W.). A separate EA could be undertaken for the full implementation of bicycle lanes along entire length of the adjacent streets, as appropriate (likely to be considered a Schedule A+ project). The City also plans to undertake a separate EA for the rapid transit project.
Accordingly, the “undertaking” for the transit facility will be subject to the new transit regulation since it supports or facilitates the transportation of passengers by bus or rail as per Section 1(2) and Schedule 1 of the regulations. This means that the City is not required to prepare an EA under the Municipal Class process for the transit terminal. The advantages of this new Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) are:
- The results of the TPAP EA are approved by the Minister and are not subject to Part II of the EA Act, meaning the EA cannot be “bumped up” to an Individual EA before proceeding to construct the transit project.
- Any opposition to the undertaking is restricted to negative impacts on a matter of provincial importance only relating to the natural environment, cultural heritage or a constitutionally protected aboriginal or treaty right.
- The timeframe of the TPAP process is limited to a maximum of 6 months from the notice of study commencement to the Minister’s notice to proceed.
The new TPAP Regulation came into effect in 2009, and all new transit projects are subject to these Regulations. Previously, under the Municipal Class EA process, a transit terminal (hub) undertaking at the subject location would have required filing of a Schedule B EA if adjacent to residential land use or environmentally sensitive area, or a pre-approved Schedule A+ if not.
These requirements can now be avoided by notifying the Director of the Environmental Assessment and Approval Branch (EAAB), at the appropriate time that the City intends on preparing an EA following the new TPAP process for the proposed transit hub.
AP process for the proposed transit hub. for the proposed transit hub. on preparing an EA new TPAP process for the proposed transit hub.