Wellington Street Extension: Alternatives
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DownloadThe Kingston Transportation Master Plan and the existing work on the current study considered various Alternative Solutions (or "Alternatives to the Undertaking") to address the future transportation needs within the project study area.
Prior to considering roadway expansion or extension, alternatives that promote non-automobile transportation were considered including:
- Provision of Walking and Cycling Facilities
- Enhanced Transit Service
- Transportation Demand Management (e.g. car pooling, flex work hours)
- Transportation System Management (e.g. intersection improvements)
- Creation of a Pair of One-Way Street (e.g. Montreal & Rideau)
- Manage/Limit Growth
- Do Nothing
Some of the above items contribute to addressing the future transportation needs in the study area. The provision of additional roadway capacity is also necessary through, either: Widening an Existing Roadway (by one lane per direction), or Introducing a New Two-Lane Roadway.
ALTERNATIVE SOLUTIONS EVALUATION
Four options were identified in the KTMP to resolve the projected future capacity deficiency in the southern portion of the study area as shown in the comparative evaluation in Table 1 below.
Three options were identified to resolve the capacity deficiency for the northern portion of the study area (at the Elliott Ave. Screenline) as shown in the comparative evaluation in Table 2 below.
The recommended Alternative Solution, as originally identified in the KTMP, includes a combination of:
- Implement Transportation Demand Management (TDM) measures to reduce travel demand
- Optimize existing roadway network area through Transportation System Management (TSM)
- Provide improved pedestrian, cycling and transit service and therefore higher modal shares for these modes of transportation, and
- Implement the Wellington Street Extension from Bay Street to Railway Street, and the Mid-Block Arterial from Railway Street to John Counter Boulevard.
Table 1: Comparative Evaluation - South Portion of Study Area
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ALTERNATIVE RANKING |
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|---|---|---|---|---|
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CRITERIA GROUP |
Wellington St. Extension |
Rideau St. Widening |
Montreal St. Widening |
Division St. Widening |
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Natural Environment |
4 |
3 |
1 |
1 |
|
Social Environment |
1 |
4 |
2 |
3 |
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Economic |
1 |
3 |
3 |
2 |
|
Cost |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
|
Transportation Service |
1 |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Overall Ranking |
1 |
2 |
2 |
2 |
Table 2: Comparative Evaluation - North Portion of Study Area
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ALTERNATIVE RANKING |
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|---|---|---|---|
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CRITERIA GROUP |
Montreal St. Widening |
Division St. Widening |
Mid-Block Arterial |
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Natural Environment |
3 |
2 |
1 |
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Social Environment |
3 |
2 |
1 |
|
Economic |
1 |
1 |
1 |
|
Cost |
2 |
1 |
2 |
|
Transportation Service |
1 |
3 |
1 |
|
Overall Ranking |
3 |
2 |
1 |
PLANNING & DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS
Planning and design considerations for this project include:
- As a 'public space' the facility should be safe, comfortable, barrier-free, attractive, used by many and a source of civic pride.
- In particular the facility should provide a safe environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
- As a 'connecting route' the facility should provide a 'good level of service' along the corridor for all roadway users at safe speeds.
- As an 'access provider' the facility should appropriately integrate with existing and future development within the study area - including potential future developments in the area of the former Tannery lands.
Planning and design considerations for this project should also include:
- The facility should consider the existing and future character of the corridor.
- Provisions for transit and / or parking should be considered.
- The recommended plan should minimize / mitigate negative impacts to natural, social, economic and cultural (i.e. heritage) environments.
- The recommended plan should consider the 'brownfields' nature of the study area and address potential site contamination issues.
- Property and building impacts should be minimized.
- The project should minimize project cost while achieving other objectives.
- The requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process are to be fulfilled.
ALTERNATIVE DESIGN CONCEPTS
Phase 3 of the Class EA Process includes the following steps:
- Identification of alternative design concepts for the preferred solution
- Detail inventory of natural, social, economic & cultural environment
- Identification of impacts of alternative designs on environment as well as mitigating measures
- Evaluation of alternative designs and identification of recommended design
Alternative Design Concepts to be considered include:
- Roadway Cross-Section Alternatives
- Alignment Alternatives
- Intersection Alternatives
- Other Design Alternatives
Roadway cross-section alternatives are comprised of a number of elements such as:
- Number of Lanes
- Type of Cross-Section (Urban vs. Rural)
- Pedestrian and Cycling Facilities
- Potential Parking and/or Transit Facilities
- Boulevards / Planting Zones
- Illumination / Utility Locations
ALIGNMENT ALTERNATIVES
Five alignment alternatives (N1 - N5) have been identified for the Mid-Block Arterial. N3 is the preferred alternative.
Three alignment alternatives (S1 - S3) have been identified for the Wellington Street Extension. S2 is the preferred alternative.
INTERSECTION ALTERNATIVES
Numerous varriation to the 8 basic alternatives initially identified for the Wellington St. / Montreal St. intersection area were considered.
3 alternatives (1E, 2C and 4B) were short-listed for detailed evaluation. 2C is the preferred alternative.
OTHER DESIGN ALTERNATIVES
Other design alternatives to be evaluated may include:
- Stormwater Management
- Environmental Mitigation
- Landscaping 'Gateway' Elements
EVALUATION CRITERIA
The evaluation of alternatives is a fundamental requirement of the EA Act. Alternative design concepts are typically evaluated based on a comparative analysis of several factors and criteria such as:
- Natural Environment
- Fisheries & Aquatic Environment
- Wetlands / Vegetation / Wildlife
- Surface Water / Ground Water
- Soils
- Socio-Economic Environment
- Social / Recreation
- Noise
- Land Use
- Property Ownership
- Business
- Contaminated Property
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Cost
- Construction Cost
- Cultural Environment
- Archaeology
- Heritage Resources
- Transportation
- Road Network Continuity
- Traffic and Operations
- Safety
- Project Staging Potential
- Engineering
- Geotechnical
- Geometrics
- Drainage / Hydrology
- Utility Impacts
- Construction Implications
- Maintenance Implications
