05-11-2010 07:30 PM
Urbanomicon
Transportation & Infrastructure Moderator
Date Feb 2010 Location Kitchener, Ontario Posts 250
"Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
River Road Extension - King Street to Manitou Drive
This corridor has been referred to in many previous planning studies going back to the 1981 River Road Extension and Feasibility Study, the 1989 Wabanaki Drive Extension, the 2000 King Street East Improvements and the 2001 Block Line Environmental Study Review. This link could provide relief from capacity constrained intersections in the area and could alleviate growing traffic congestion on Fairway Road. The study area encompasses the ESPA 27 and an identified Provincially Significant Wetland (PSW) so the environmental component of the project will be very important.
05-11-2010 07:31 PM
Urbanomicon
Transportation & Infrastructure Moderator
Date Feb 2010 Location Kitchener, Ontario Posts 250
"Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
In July 2006, upon completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process in the South Kitchener Transportation Corridor Study, the Regional Municipality of Waterloo approved Alternative 4C as the new road corridor alignment for the planned extension of River Road from King Street to Manitou Drive.
IBI Group has been retained by the Region of Waterloo to conduct the planning, design and construction administration and to complete an EA Study in accordance with Schedule “C” requirements for Phases 3 and 4 of the River Road Extension project.
The Preferred Design Concept of this road extension was presented to the public at a Public Information Centre (PIC) held on February 27, 2007. Based in part on public input to the project following the PIC, an additional field study was conducted in the spring of 2007 to update the natural environmental inventory for this project. This fieldwork discovered the presence of a Threatened Species as defined by the Canada Species at Risk Act and the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act within the Hidden Valley Environmentally Sensitive Policy Area (ESPA 27). A technical sub-committee of the Project Team formed to address the issue of the Threatened Species has indicated that additional field work is required in the spring of 2008 to confirm the habitat of the Threatened Species, and whether the preferred River Road alignment would have any negative impact on this habitat.
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web...df?openelement
05-11-2010 07:41 PM
Urbanomicon
Transportation & Infrastructure Moderator
Date Feb 2010 Location Kitchener, Ontario Posts 250
"Only the insane have the strength enough to prosper. Only those that prosper may truly judge what is sane."
RIVER ROAD EXTENSION CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT PHASE 3-4
King Street to Manitou Drive, Kitchener
The Region of Waterloo is undertaking a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) Study to
consider an extension of River Road from King Street to Manitou Drive, including a new
interchange with Highway 8 in Kitchener. In July 2006, upon completion of Phases 1 and 2 of the
EA process for the South Kitchener Transportation Corridor Study (SKTCS), the Region of
Waterloo endorsed a new road corridor alignment (Alternative 4C) for the planned extension of
River Road. Alternative 4C is the Preferred Solution that addresses existing and forecasted
roadway network deficiencies to move people and goods in South Kitchener. The Preferred
Design Concept of this road extension was presented to the public at a Public Information
Centre (PIC) held on February 27, 2007.
Based in part on public input to the project following the PIC, an additional field study was
conducted in the spring of 2007 to update the natural environmental inventory for this project.
This fieldwork discovered the presence of a Threatened Species as defined by the Canada
Species at Risk Act and the Ontario Fish and Wildlife Conservation Act within the Hidden Valley
Environmentally Sensitive Policy Area (ESPA 27). A technical sub-committee of the Project
Team formed to address the issue of the Threatened Species has indicated that additional field
work is required in the spring of 2008 to confirm the habitat of the Threatened Species, and
whether the preferred River Road alignment would have any negative impact on this habitat.
The Ministry of Natural Resources (MNR) has also asked the Project Team to withhold any
additional information regarding the Threatened Species until all required field studies have been
completed. The Project Team is complying with this request in the interest of protecting the
Threatened Species identified. All relevant information about the Threatened Species will be
made available to the public after completion of the 2008 field studies.
The Region of Waterloo is continuing the Class EA for the River Road Extension in accordance
with Schedule “C” requirements for Phases 3 and 4. This includes the preparation of the
Preliminary Design of the road extension, and the Environmental Study Report documenting all
findings and recommendations of the project. The additional field work in the spring of 2008 will
result in a delay to the project schedule, with the Environmental Study Report now being planned
for completion in the fall of 2008. A Public Input Meeting will be held in the summer of 2008 to
present the additional field work results, and the Recommended Design Alternative for the road.
All interested members of the public on the project mailing list will be notified by mail of the
Public Input Meeting, and the Regional Council meeting in the fall of 2008 to consider approval
of the Environmental Study Report.
http://www.region.waterloo.on.ca/web...df?openelement