In 2002, York Region initiated an Individual Environmental Assessment for the Markham Bypass Corridor South of Highway 407 (hereafter to be referred to as the Donald Cousens Parkway to Morningside Avenue Link EA or the EA). The purpose of the EA was to address existing and future transportation needs between the southeastern area of the Town of Markham and the northeastern area of the City of Toronto. The EA Report was completed and submitted to the Ministry of the Environment for formal review in December 2005.
Since that time, York Region has been working with the City of Toronto to address outstanding boundary area transportation issues which have implications for the Donald Cousens Parkway to Morningside Avenue Link (the project). The Minister of the Environment agreed to permit the EA to be amended to address the remaining issues. York Region and the City of Toronto have agreed to re-examine the alternative road alignments that were considered in the EA to take into consideration issues raised by the City of Toronto and to better reflect the needs of each municipality. On this basis, York Region is proceeding with an Amendment to the EA.
The EA presented a clear rationale for nine road alignment alternatives that were developed and evaluated. The environmental factors set out in the EA will be used in the Amendment to the EA to revisit the evaluation of the alignment alternatives and update the evaluation based on a current assessment of these factors. If another alignment is selected as being preferred, the Amendment to the EA will provide a clear rationale for the selection.
A Work Plan for the EA Amendment was submitted to the Ministry of the Environment in early 2009. On July 2, 2009, the Minister of the Environment issued a Minister's Order (MO-2009-001) approving the EA Amendment Workplan and allowing York Region to amend the EA.
York Region and the City of Toronto will work closely together to ensure that the recommendation for the final alignment meets the needs of both municipalities and is implementable. The review will:
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Update background data, including traffic analysis
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Undertake a comparative evaluation of each of the alignment alternatives
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Develop preliminary design of the preferred alternative
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Assess the potential effects of the preferred undertaking
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Consult technical agencies, property owners, interest groups and the general public
The process is divided into four phases:
| Phase 1 - |
Update background information, including review of the most recent planning documents |
Phase 2 -
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Traffic modelling.
Develop, analyse and evaluate alternatives |
| Phase 3 - |
Preliminary design of preferred alternative |
| Phase 4 - |
Preparation of amendment to EA |
Members of the public will have the opportunity to provide input through out the EA Amendment process via the study website or through members of the Project Team. The public will also have an opportunity to participate through attendance at a Public Consultation Centre (PCC) that will be scheduled as the Amendment to the EA proceeds.
A Notice of Study Completion will also be issued when the Amended EA is submitted for review. Submission of the Amended EA will be subject to a final decision from the Minister of the Environment.
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