Cataraqui Woods Drive Extension
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DownloadThe project is located in the City of Kingston within the Cataraqui Industrial Park. The primary study area for assessment of alternatives is generally defined as the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor from Midland Avenue to Gardiners Road.
STUDY BACKGROUND
- Cataraqui Woods Drive is a two-lane collector road.
- Existing Cataraqui Woods Drive is divided into two individual sections:
- First section starts from Clyde Crescent (east of Gardiners Road) to approximately 200 m west of Gardiners Road.
- Second section starts from Midland Avenue to Bayridge Drive.
- Link improvements to Cataraqui Woods Drive were identified in the Kingston Transportation Master Plan (KTMP), July 2004.
- A continuous east-west link via Cataraqui Woods Drive from Sydenham Road westerly to Princess Street, west of Collins Creek was recommended by KTMP.
- This EA was undertaken to identify and address transportation needs on the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor between Midland Avenue and Gardiners Road.
STUDY PURPOSE
The purpose of the study is to:
- Undertake a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) to identify the short-term and long-term transportation needs within the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor between Midland Avenue and Gardiners Road.
- Assess the future capacity, operations, and alignment needs and opportunities within the corridor.
- Identify a technically preferred alternative to address opportunities and anticipated deficiencies.
The study is being carried out in accordance with the requirements of a Schedule "B" Class Environmental Assessment.
STUDY PUBLIC CONSULTATION PLAN
- Opportunities for public input are provided throughout the process, and comments are welcomed. Formal public consultation points, are as follows:
- Notice of Study Commencement (February 2005)
- Public Information Centre (June 2, 2005)
- Notice of Study Completion - anticipated Summer 2005
- The notice of Study Completion will be published when the project is completed.
- A project file will be available for public review and comment for a 30-day review period.
- During the 30-day review period, you may request a Part II Order (formerly known as the “bump-up” request), if you feel, after consulting with the City, that serious environmental concerns remain unresolved. An order to comply with Part II of the EA Act would require that the City study the issue of Cataraqui Woods Drive in further detail. The decision rests with the Minister of the Environment.
NEEDS AND OPPORTUNITIES
Operational Needs and Opportunities:
- Anticipated traffic circulation and functional servicing needs for existing and future residential, commercial and industrial developments adjacent to the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor.
- Transportation improvement needs within the study area as identified by the Kingston Transportation Master Plan (KTMP).
- Results based on a screenline analysis across Gardiners Road which projected traffic demand will exceed capacity in the east-west corridors during peak periods and will require one additional eastwest lane by 2026.
- Traffic demand is expected to be linked to the rate of development within the immediate areas of the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor.
- A network master plan was developed as part of the KTMP which included the extension of Cataraqui Woods Drive between Midland Avenue and Gardiners Road.
Planning Needs and Opportunities:
- Future transit servicing opportunities identified by KTMP.
- Future cycling route opportunities identified by KTMP.
- Road network connectivity.
PROBLEM STATEMENT
The problem statement entails finding transportation solutions necessary for improvements in the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor between Midland Avenue and Gardiners Road to address the following:
- Anticipated traffic circulation and functional servicing needs for existing and future developments adjacent to the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor.
- Future link capacity opportunities identified by the Kingston Transportation Master Plan (KTMP). KTMP will provide the background framework for the update of City of Kingston Official Plan.
- Future transit service opportunities.
- Future cycling route opportunities.
- Road network connectivity.
EXISTING CONDITIONS
Existing conditions relating to the environment in the Cataraqui Woods Drive corridor are as follows:- Socio-Economic
- Primarily light industrial and commercial with active residential development occurring west of the study area.
- Cataraqui Woods Drive provides direct access to existing businesses.
- Natural Environment Vegetation and Wildlife
- Cleared landscape, natural environment features eliminated by decades of human activity.
- No distinguishable vegetation types are evident.
- No native fauna observed.
- No significant potential to support native vertebrate fauna.
- Cleared landscape, no remaining natural significance south of ROW.
- Regionally significant alvar, potential regionally significant taxa, potential significant wildlife habitat north of ROW.
- Archaeology
- No archaeological sites are registered within 2-km of the study area.
- Area exhibits archaeological potential based on physiography and 19th century land uses.
ALTERNATIVE PLANNING SOLUTIONS
Three options were considered as alternatives to address the problem statement. They include:
- Do Nothing - represents continuation of existing conditions and would involve no changes or improvements to the existing transportation network.
- Other Road Improvements - constructing new east-west corridors and/or widening of existing corridors in the vicinity.
- Cataraqui Woods Drive Extension - extend Cataraqui Woods Drive from Midland Avenue to west of Gardiners Road within the existing road right-of-way.
Cataraqui Woods Drive extension is the preferred planning solution:
- Addresses the problem and opportunities statement by providing traffic circulation, servicing, and capacity needs for the developing Cataraqui Woods neighbourhood and Midland Avenue development area.
- Supports the Kingston Transportation Master Plan.
Minimum environmental impacts are anticipated based on the environmental inventory.
DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
The following alternative designs were considered for Cataraqui Woods Drive extension section.
Cross-Sections:
- 2-lane cross-section plus dedicated left turn lanes at intersections.
- 3-lane cross-section including a continuous centre left turn lane.
A 2-lane cross-section plus left turn lane at intersections is the preferred design given:
- The design accommodates the local traffic as the area immediately around Cataraqui Woods Drive develops.
- The design matches the existing Cataraqui Wood Drive crosssection west of Gardiners Road.
- Rural vs Urban Cross-Section An urban cross-section was chosen to be consistent with existing section west of Gardiners Road. This includes curb and gutter with drainage ditches to accommodate stormwater runoff.
PREFERRED DESIGN ALTERNATIVE
The technically preferred alternative and design identified:
- Extension of Cataraqui Woods Drive from Midland Avenue easterly to match into the existing Cataraqui Woods Drive west of Gardiners Road.
- Construction of the proposed extension to a two lane urban crosssection with urban drainage.
- Provision of dedicated left turn lanes on Cataraqui Woods Drive at Midland Avenue and Gardiners Road intersections and continuous left turn lane on Cataraqui Woods Drive extension.
- Provision of maintenance widening / bike lanes on Cataraqui Woods Drive extension.
- Traffic signal installation at Midland Avenue and Gardiners Road intersections with the proposed Cataraqui Woods Drive extension.
Benefits of the improvements to Cataraqui Woods Drive include:
- New and improved access points for adjacent developed and developable lands.
- Accommodation for anticipated future traffic growth.
- Accommodation for future transit and cycling needs.
- Improved network connectivity and intersection capacity / movements.
- Minimal environmental impacts.
FUTURE ACTIONS
- We will review all comments and suggestions received from the public and agencies.
- Based on public and agency input, we will:
- Confirm the preferred Planning Solution.
- Confirm the Preferred Design Alternative.
- Refine/finalize the preliminary design of the preferred alternative.
- Prepare a project file.
- The project file will be available for public review and comment for the required minimum 30-day review period.
YOUR INPUT IS IMPORTANT
We invite you to fill in the comment sheet with your comments and suggestions.
If you wish to be put on our mailing list for notification of the Study Completion, require further information, or wish to provide input to the study, you can contact us in the following ways:
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David Argue, P.Eng, PTOE |
Jim Fowler, C.E.T. |
