The Study Process

The Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for Provincial Transportation Facilities (2000) provides a decision-making process to make sure that all relevant engineering and environmental factors are considered in the planning and design of transportation facilities. This Planning, Preliminary Design and Class Environmental Assessment Study is being undertaken as a Group ‘A’ project.

 

Study Phases

Ongoing Consultation

  1. Transportation needs assessment phase
    1. Develop Problem and Opportunity Statements
    2. Identify Alternatives to the Undertaking (ie, “Alternatives to”)
    3. Assess “Alternatives to” (How well do they address the Problem and Opportunity Statements?)
    4. Select “Alternatives to” to carry forward for further development
      1. Public Information Centre 1
      2. Indigenous Community Information Sharing Session
    5. Confirm Class EA Process

  2. Planning phase
    1. Public Study Design Report (SDR)
      1. SDR 30-day public review
    2. Develop Planning Alternatives (“Alternative Methods”)
    3. Develop Evaluation Process
      1. Public Information Centre 2
      2. Indigenous Community Information Sharing Session
    4. Evaluate Planning Alternatives
    5. Select Preferred Alternative

  3. Preliminary design phase
    1. Develop Recommended Plan
    2. Identify Traffic Management and Staging Requirements
    3. Confirm Environmental Impacts and Mitigation
    4. Identify Property Requirements
      1. Public Information Centre 3
      2. Indigenous Community Information Sharing Session
    5. Refine and Finalize Recommended Plan

  4. Documentation and environmental clearance phase
    1. Public Transportation Environmental Study Report (TESR)
      1. TESR 30-day public review
    2. Obtain Environmental Clearance

  5. Future phases…
    1. Detail Design of the Recommended Plan
      1. Additional public consultation
    2. Property Acquisition and Utility Relocation
    3. Construction