EAST DON TRAIL ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENTProject Overview

Ward 31 Ravine Meeting

November 4, 2013

7:00 to 9:00 p.m.

Presteign-Woodbine United Church

Background

The East Don Trail Environmental Assessment

Bikeway Trails Implementation Plan•City of Toronto audit of its existing major multi-use trail network to assess the viability of new connections •Plan was approved by City Council on June 6, 2012 •The East Don Trail is the largest and most complex multi-use trail project in the Plan and is identified as a short-term priority

The East Don Trail Project•A feasibility study was completed to assess the potential for a trail system through the East Don Corridor •The study determined that a trail was possible and identified potential technical challenges •The East Don Trail Environmental Assessment (EA) study is the next step in this process•The EA is being carried out by the City of Toronto and the Toronto and Regional Conservation Authority, with Aquafor Beech Limited

Study Area & Problem/Opportunity Statement

The East Don Trail Environmental Assessment

Problem/Opportunity Statement

A significant gap in the multi-use trail network exists within the East Don Corridor between the existing East Don Trail (East of Wynford Heights Crescent), Gatineau Corridor Trail (at approximately Bermondsey Rd), and the Don Trail System. The East Don Trail will fill this existing gap in the trail network thus creating a continuous connected trail network.

Public Consultation

The East Don Trail Environmental Assessment

Public Information Centre (PIC)

•PICs are public events in which the public are invited to learn more about the project and provide comments

•Two out of three PICs have been held (Feb 13 and Sept 12, 2013)

 

Community Liaison Committee (CLC)

•Made up of stakeholder representatives

•Identify public concern related to the impact and design of the project, and offer advice or potential solutions to resolve these concerns

•The CLC has met four times and will meet up to two additional times during the study process.

Project Website

•www.toronto.ca/eastdontrail

•Subscribe to the email list for project updates, link found on the website

Trail Objectives

The East Don Trail Environmental Assessment

East Don Trail EA Process

PHASE 4Environmental Study Report

PHASE 5Implementation

PHASE 1Identification of Opportunity or Problem

• Identify the problem/opportunity and develop statement• Define project objectives• Prepare a detailed inventory of existing conditions

PHASE 2Alternative Solutions

• Identify and Evaluate Alternative Solutions (Alternatives To and Alternative Trail Alignments)

• Select a preferred Alternative Solution

PHASE 3Alternative Design Concepts for the Preferred Solution

• Identify and Evaluate Alternative Design Concepts• Select a Preferred Design Concept

• Complete Environmental Study Report• File with Ministry of the Environment for 30 day public review

• Complete contract drawings and tender documents• Proceed to construction• Monitor construction for adherence to environmental

provisions and commitments

PIC#1

PIC#2

PIC#3

Alternative Solutions

The East Don Trail Environmental Assessment

• Alternative Solutions are feasibly different ways of addressing the Problem/Opportunity Statement. They are identified, evaluated and a preferred solution is selected

• Evaluation of Alternative Solutions was done as a two-step process:

– Step 1: “Alternatives To”

• Included Do Nothing and Provide a Multi-use Trail Connection

• The option Provide a Multi-Use Trail Connection was chosen to move forward to Step 2 (based on problem/opportunity statement, project objectives and evaluation)

– Step 2: “Alternative Trail Alignments”

• Represent trail route options for providing a Multi-Use Trail Connection

• Draft evaluation was presented at PIC#2, the project team is reviewing comments and input and a preferred solution will be selected in the upcoming weeks

Area 1 (two alignments): Forest Trail AForest Trail B

Area 2 (nine alignments): Road Link A, B and C River Walk A, B and CRail Trail A, B and C

Area 3 (three alignments): Access Route AAccess Route BAccess Route C

Alternative Trail Alignments

The Alternative Trail Alignments were broken down into 3 distinct areas, based on infrastructure and property challenges, and river sections. Each area was evaluated separately.

Next Steps

The East Don Trail Environmental Assessment

• Determine preferred Alternative Trail Alignment• Detailed field work including: trees inventory, topography survey, and borehole

investigations• Identify and evaluate Alternative Design Concepts for the Preferred Trail Alignment • Present Alternative Design Concepts to public at next Public Information Centre

(Spring 2014).

You are invited to learn more and to share your insights and opinions at any time.

For more information, please contact:

Maogosha PyjorPublic Consultation Unit, City of TorontoMetro Hall, 19th Floor, 55 John St.Toronto, ON M5V 3C6

Tel: 416-338-2850 TTY: 416-397-0831Fax: 416-392-2974Email: eastdontrail@toronto.ca

Website: www.toronto.ca/eastdontrail