corridor managment 101

Ontario East Municipal Conference

“Highway Corridor Management 101”

Corridor Management and Property Section

Ministry of Transportation

Friday September 14, 2012

Corridor Management & Property Section 2

Welcome

Tony Di Fabio

Senior Planner and Policy Advisor

Corridor Management and Property

Section


Contents

Highway Corridor Management Introduction

Relevant Legislation

Corridor Management Organization

Land Development/Municipal Land Use Planning

MTO Corridor Management Permits

Corridor Management Public Service Commitments

Current Issues

Contact Information


Corridor Management

Corridor Management is about the ministry

“managing the Highway corridor”


Why does the ministry manage the highway corridor ?

Ensure the safety of the travelling public

Ensure the operating efficiency of public

highways

Protect the highway corridor for future

expansion


How does the ministry manage the highway corridor ?

Issue corridor management permits

Review land development applications

Review utility relocations and standalone

utility requests on highway ROW


Relevant Legislation

Public Transportation Highway Improvement Act (PTHIA)

Legislation that gives MTO permit control authority – Section 34

(King’s Highway), Section 38 (Controlled Access Highways)

Planning Act

Controls land use planning in Ontario and is administered by the

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing (MMAH is the “approval

authority”). Under this act, MTO is a commenting agency only on land

development applications, we only make recommendations to the

approval authority

Public Service Works on Highway Act

Legislation that gives MTO relocation authority for certain utilities and

may be used for cost sharing


Corridor Management Organization

Head Office

Central Region West Region East RegionNortheast

Region

Northwest

Region

Port Hope Area

OfficeBancroft Area Office

Kingston Ottawa Area Office

North Bay Area

OfficeSudbury Area Office

New Liskeard Area

Office

Cochrane Area

Office

Sault Ste. Marie

Area Office

Kenora Area OfficeThunder Bay Area

Office

Huntsville Area

Office

Head Office

Central Region West Region East RegionNortheast

Region

Northwest

Region

Port Hope Area

OfficeBancroft Area Office

Kingston Ottawa Area Office

North Bay Area

OfficeSudbury Area Office

New Liskeard Area

Office

Cochrane Area

Office

Sault Ste. Marie

Area Office

Kenora Area OfficeThunder Bay Area

Office

Huntsville Area

Office


Corridor Management – Head Office

Provides overall guidance, leadership, support and direction to regional corridor management offices across the province, as well, external stakeholders and the public

Responsibilities include:

Policy development and support

Custodian of electronic permitting system

Annual highway ROW lease agreements

Land use planning

Stakeholder consultation

Training

Committees and task groups


Corridor Management – Regional Offices

Manage respective highway corridors

Responsibilities include:

Issue permits – Includes the administration of permits such as

permit fee collection

Review development applications – Developers,

municipalities, utility companies and the general public.

Examples of applications are subdivisions, site plans, zoning

amendments and severances

Enforcement – Address violations of policies (e.g. sign

infractions)


Internal Stakeholders

TRAFFIC

- Geometrics/Signalization/Illumination

- Traffic Impact Studies

- Pavement Markings/Detours

- Traffic Control Plans

HIGHWAY ENGINEERING

- Future highway expansion

/property requirements

- Geotmetric comments

- OPS Standards & Specifications

STRUCTURAL

- Maintenance of Structures

- Tender documents

- Design approval

GEOTECHNICAL/FOUNDATIONS

- Pavement structure

- Shoulder design

- Tunnel construction

- Slope stability

- Material properties

SURVEYS AND PLANS

- Property Limits

- Property Requests/Designations

PROPERTY

- Property issues/Ownership

- Designations/Easements

LEGAL SERVICES

- Legal Agreements/ Legal Advice

- Road/Entrance closures

- Briefing Notes/ Minister Letters

CONSTRUCTION

- Tender/Construction package

- Pre-construction meetings

- OPS Standards and Specific.

ELECTRICAL

- Signalization/Illumination design

- Glare/Light control

- Maintenance

- City/Regional negotiations

DRAINAGE AND HYDROLOGY

- Stormwater Management Reports

- Grading Plans

Corridor

Management


External Stakeholders

GENERAL PUBLIC

DEVELOPERS GOVERNMENT AGENCIES

MUNICIPALITIES

REGIONS

CITIES

CONTRACTORS CONSULTANTS

Corridor

Management

INDIVIDUAL BUSINESS


Welcome

Heather Doyle

Senior Planner and Policy Advisor

Corridor Management and Property

Section


MTO Interest in

Municipal Land Use Planning


Ministry’s Interest in the Municipal Planning

Why is MTO Involved?

To accommodate development

adjacent to the provincial highway system while minimizing the impact on highway operations and expansion

Provincial transportation facilities and municipal land use planning are inextricably linked; transportation facilities affect municipal planning and vice versa.


Ministry’s Interest in the Municipal Planning

To protect land in the corridor for future highway expansion

To minimize relocation and reconstruction costs of utilities, entrances, municipal roads, buildings


Provincial Policy Statement (PPS) –

Corridor Protection Policies

All planning authorities shall be consistent with the PPS:

1.6.6.1 Planning authorities shall plan and protect corridors and rights-of-ways

for transportation, transit and infrastructure facilities to meet current and projected needs

1.6.6.2 Planning authorities shall not permit development in planned corridors that could preclude or negatively affect the use of the corridor for the purpose(s) for which it was identified.


Two Sets of Legislation

MTO reviews proposed land use developments and municipal

planning documents under two sets of legislation:

The Planning Act

The Public Transportation & Highway Improvement Act (PTHIA)


The Planning Act – MTO Interest

Under the Planning Act:

MTO reviews site specific development applications adjacent to

our highways submitted to us from municipalities or MMAH.

MTO also reviews municipal planning documents such as

Official Plans and zoning by-laws to ensure that

policies/regulations are compatible with MTO interests.


The Public Transportation and Highway Improvement

Act (PTHIA) - MTO Interest

The Act

Establishes an area of permit control (Sections 34 and 38 of the (PTHIA); an area where there is a need for municipalities to consult on proposed developments adjacent to and within the area of permit control of a provincial highway.

Provides for the designation of a highway (by Order-in-Council)

Controls development adjacent to a designated highway corridor



Act

What does designating a highway by OIC allow the Ministry

to do? Notifies the public of ministry’s

plans for a new highway

Protects highway corridor by establishing an area of permit control which comes into effect with the designation

Allows MTO to protect land for future options and future highway purposes



Act (PTHIA)

Almost all site specific development applications circulated to MTO from a municipality would be reviewed under the PTHIA.

MTO will identify our requirements under PTHIA and identify the required MTO permits.


Two Review Processes

MTO reviews development proposals and municipal

planning documents under two review process:

One Window (OW) Provincial Planning

Service; and

Municipal Plan Review (MPR)


One-Window Planning Provincial Service (OW)

Where MMAH is the Approval Authority

Under the Planning Act, Council adopted Official Plans must be circulated by MMAH to interested partner Ministries for their review and comment

All partner ministries including MTO review these applications under the One Window Planning Service

Most of MTO planning review is coordinated through the One Window Provincial Planning Service


One-Window Provincial Planning Service (OW)

MTO reviews municipal official plans to ensure

local policies in the plans do not conflict with MTO

mandate, highway planning studies and policy

direction as it relates to land use planning



Where Municipal Council is the

Approval Authority

Applies to Municipal Official Plans and local development

proposals where there is an upper tier approval (i.e. County,

Region); MMAH is not involved

No official legislative process for municipalities to consult with

MTO however municipalities do need to consult with MTO under

the PTHIA for developments located within our area of permit

control



Most municipalities are aware of MTO need to be

involved in all developments located adjacent to a

provincial highway and within our area of permit

control

In most cases, MTO and municipalities have long

standing working relationships to ensure MTO is

involved within our area of permit control


Challenges for MTO

How to ensure municipalities engage MTO in all development proposals located within our area permit control early in the process

How to ensure that MTO has an opportunity to review MPR official plans in the early stages to ensure that MTO concerns are incorporated in these documents

How to ensure municipalities have effective planning tools to understanding MTO mandate in municipal planning


How MTO Addresses Challenges

MTO seeks opportunities for early intervention and involvement in the municipal planning process to address any issues including:

Involved in an Official Plan process before Council adopts the Plan

Involving MTO when developing any plans along Provincial highways and/or within our area permit control (i.e. Secondary Plans or site specific developments )

Creating opportunities to speak to municipal staff and proponents about our OP Guideline and how policies can be incorporated into local Official Plans



Municipalities and MTO can jointly:

Plan for current and projected needs

Utilize mechanisms to protect the inter-regional function of existing corridors from direct and adjacent points of access to the highway

Protect existing and planned provincial corridors from new points of access to ensure the long term sustainability of provincial corridors


Distance Offset from Highway Interchange to Crossing Road Intersections and Entrances

#1. High volume commercial

entrances are too close to

interchange ramps.

#3. At-grade intersections of

municipal roads are too close

to interchange ramp

#2. Low volume commercial

entrances are too close to

interchange ramps. Impacts of # 1, 2, & 3:

• Traffic backs up along

highway exit ramps.

• Difficult for traffic exiting

highway to make left turns

onto municipal roads.

• Conflict between highway

traffic entering municipal

road and municipal road

traffic exiting to commercial

development.

• Through traffic delayed

by turning vehicles.

• Left turns increase

collision potential.



Provide input to major phases/decision points in the development of the draft official plan;

Identify and resolve MTO issues, at each stage of the process (or identify points where MTO and Municipality “agree to disagree”)

Develop tools to assist municipalities in understanding Ministry interests in municipal official plans and adjacent development


MTO Tools for Municipalities

MTO has developed three Guidelines:

Ministry of Transportation Guidelines for Municipal Official Plan Preparation and Review; and

MTO Guideline for Plan of Subdivision Review Process; and

Transit-Supportive Guidelines


Official Plan Guideline - Highlights

Transportation Planning Policies and Guidelines:

Provincial Policy Statement (PPS)

Sections 1.6.5 and 1.6.6 of the PPS relate specifically to transportation and infrastructure policies.

Transit Supportive Guideline (Implementation Jan. 2012)

HOV networks

A Guide to Preparing a Transit Ridership Growth Plan

Ontario Bikeways Planning and Design Guideline

Specific Policies and Standards for Impacts on the Provincial Transportation System:

Policies and Provisions to address local Growth and development adjacent to and in vicinity of a Provincial highway

General Official Plan Mapping Provisions MTO Permit Control Area under PTHIA


Official Plan Guideline- Highlights

Highway Geometrics

Proposed Access Connections onto a Provincial Highway

Access connections along Municipal Crossroads in the Vicinity of

a Provincial Highway Intersection or Interchange Ramp

Terminal

Lot Design of Proposed Subdivision abutting a Provincial

Highway

Outdoor Storage on Properties abutting Provincial Highways


Official Plan Guideline -Highlights

Home Occupations, Industries and Businesses Located Adjacent to provincial Highways

Access to Properties beyond MTO’s Permit Control Area

Stormwater Management

Trail Crossings

Wayside Pits and Quarries, Portable Asphalt and Concrete Plants

MTO Patrol Yards

Wind Farms

MTO Owned Lands


Official Plan should NOT include

Proposed interchange locations or proposed

highways not approved (or opposed) by the MTO

Geometric details of provincial

highways/interchanges such as #of lanes, widths of

lanes

Commitments that bind the province, such as future

highway studies/projects


MTO Guideline for Plan of Subdivision

Review Process

Revised Guideline implemented in

February 2012

It sets out the MTO review

process and requirements for all

subdivisions

Outlines the obligations of both

MTO and proponents of

development


MTO Guideline for Plan of Subdivision Review

Process

Introduction of Pre-consultation Meeting with MTO

MTO encourages proponents to attend a pre-consultation meeting with MTO staff

MTO suggests receiving the plans two weeks before the meeting to provide valuable feedback at meeting

Provides proponents with what can be expected from MTO

Opportunity to discuss other applicable matters such required studies and financial responsibilities


MTO Guideline for Plan of Subdivision Review Process

Possible Requirements of MTO

Whether the proposed development impacts upon future

plans of the MTO – the status of the planning study would be

outlined

Whether direct access to highway will be permitted

Whether the proposed street entrances meet MTO spacing

requirements

Provide a list of conditions of draft approval (i.e. drainage

plans, traffic impact study, 0.3 m reserve, widening

requirements)

Provide building setbacks from highway property line

Contact information for MTO permits


In Summary

Key Messages

Engage MTO early in your planning initiatives

Encourage municipalities to consult with MTO on all development proposals located within MTO area of permit control

Work together to protect existing and planned provincial corridors from new points of access to ensure the long term sustainability of provincial corridors


What is Permit Control ?

The legal limit that the ministry can regulate

buildings, structures, roads, entrances and the

placement of signs


Why is Permit Control Important ?

Highway 401 at Keele Street – Toronto (1958)



Highway 401 at Keele Street – Toronto (2012)



Highway 401 at Toronto Pearson International (2006)


Types of Corridor Management Permits

Building and Land Use

Encroachment

Entrance

Sign


Building and Land Use Permit

Building and land use is defined as a building,

structure or fence adjacent to a provincial highway

within permit control


Building and Land Use Permit - Controlled Area

Controlled-Access Highway


Building and Land Use Permit - Controlled Area

King’s Highway


Building and Land Use Permit - Objective

To maintain the highest flow of highway traffic with

the highest degree of safety

To reduce the likelihood that future changes in the

highway right-of-way will make it necessary to

relocate buildings (e.g. proper setbacks, mitigate

drainage/traffic impacts, etc.)

Reduce expense and inconvenience to the property

owner and the public


Building and Land Use Permit - Residential


Building and Land Use Permit - Commercial


Building and Land Use Permit – Large Generator

Yorkdale

401


Encroachment Permit

An encroachment is defined as works or other

installations that are placed upon, under, or over

which in any way interferes with, or infringes upon the

right-of-way of a highway


Encroachment Permit - Controlled Area

Highway Right-of-Way

ROW


Encroachment Permit - Objective

Reduce liability on highway right-of-way

Ensure safety of travelling public

Reduce the likelihood that works may interfere with a

highway or create a maintenance problem

Ensure all works are satisfactory to MTO and all

costs are borne by the encroaching party


Encroachment Permit - Utilities


Encroachment Permit - Municipal


Encroachment Permit - Signs


Entrance Permit

An entrance is defined as a private road,

entranceway, gate or other structure or facility used

as a means of access to, or exit from, a highway; and

shall include any curbs, gutters or other works

relative thereto


Entrance Permit - Controlled Area

Entrances on a King’s Highway right-of-way are

permitted, providing MTO requirements are met

Entrances on controlled-access highways are not

permitted


Entrance Permit - Objective

Reduce liability on the highway right-of-way

Maintain operating integrity of the highway system

Control development impact

Reduce future problems and costs including the

potential restriction of future expansion opportunities

Ensure environmental protection


Entrance Permit – Residential/Agricultural


Entrance Permit - Commercial


Sign Permit

Sign shall include any sign, notice, advertising

device, or any part thereof whether it contains words

or not and shall include any device that is used solely

to attract attention


Sign Permit - Controlled Area

Any “visible” sign within 400 m of ministry property limits


Sign Permit - Objective

To balance the needs between highway safety,

environmental considerations, sign owners and

individual businesses


Sign Permit - Location


Sign Permit - Billboard


Sign Permit - Temporary


Corridor Management Public Service Commitments

Implemented April 1, 2011

MTO committed to:

Providing prompt and clear information and guidance to help

process your building, entrance, sign and encroachment

applications

Streamlining the review processes for residential subdivision

proposals

Target = 100%

2011 Performance measurement = 90% – 100%

Corridor Management Public Service Commitments and Performance Reports are available on MTO Website:

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/service-commitment/corridor-mgmnt-permit-appln.shtml











Current Issues

Corridor Management Permit System

Permit Fee Increase – October 1, 2012

Sign Enforcement


Corridor Management Public Website

General Information

Policies and Guidelines

Applications

Fee Schedule

Contact Information

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/engineering/management/corridor/index.shtml

http://www.mto.gov.on.ca/english/engineering/management/corridor/index.shtml


Contact Information

Head Office:

Tony Di Fabio Heather Doyle

Senior Planner & Policy Advisor Senior Planner & Policy Advisor

Corridor Management and Property Office Corridor Management and Property Office

Ministry of Transportation Ministry of Transportation

Tel: 905-704-2656 Tel: 905-704-2913

Fax: 905-704-2777 Fax: 905-704-2777

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Ted Lagakos Kris Kernaghan

Senior Planner & Policy Advisor Head

Corridor Management and Property Office Corridor Management and Property Office

Ministry of Transportation Ministry of Transportation

Tel: 905-704-3257 Tel: 905-704-2230

Fax: 905-704-2777 Fax: 905-704-2777

Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]





Questions

corridor managment 101

Documents

kings highway

highway act legislation

mto relocation authority

policy development

travelling public

municipal planningand

municipal planningwhy

site plans