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Faculty of Engineering and Architectural Science

Department of Civil Engineering

CVL300: Environmental Science and Impact Assessment

Tutorial #6 Draft TOR of Hwy 407 East Extension 2004

1. Does the “do-nothing” alternative mean no improvement to the current transportation situation
is needed? If not, what does it really mean?
Answer: No. Current approved provincial, regional, and municipal initiatives still prevail that
include some transportation relief measures such road improvements and demand management.

2. How are the alternatives generated?

Answer: The planning alternatives discussed below were generated on the basis of the themes
or objectives embodied in planning and transportation policy documents considered in the
preparation of this ToR.

3. When descripting the alternatives and evaluation factors, the TOR states that they are the
minimum considerations. Is it a good approach? Explain.
Answer: Yes. For the stakeholders, it offers an open approach where additional alternatives
and evaluation factors can be considered subsequently during the EA. Since the alternatives
and evaluation factors were developed accordance to the planning and transportation policy
documents. It is expected that any new alternatives and evaluation factors be developed with
the same documents.

4. Which alternatives are outside the jurisdiction of Ministry of Transport (MTO), the proponent?
Answer:
(a) Travel Demand Management (TDM) – TDM strategies include measures implemented to
improve the operation of the current transportation system by managing travel demand
independent of other structural initiatives (i.e. constructing or expanding roads). The
emphasis of TDM strategies is to reduce overall demands on the network, shift demands to
time periods outside of the critical congestion periods, and shift demands to alternative
modes of transportation; principally transit, cycling and walking;

TDM may involve regional and municipal transportation system and outside the jurisdiction of
MTO.

(b) Transportation Systems Management (TSM) – The objective of TSM is to improve the
efficiency and safety of the transportation system and optimize the use of existing and
planned infrastructure through a wide range of strategies and technology policies and
initiatives. Measures include initiatives such as transit priority facilities, ITS (intelligent
transportation system) strategies, High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes and Reserved Bus
Lanes (RBL), Park’n’Ride facilities and intersection improvements;

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The above initiatives appear to be associated with highways and may be the jurisdiction of
MTO.

(c) Improved Air Transport Service – Modifications to existing air transport services and
any
associated structural modifications/new infrastructure can potentially result in a change in
travel patterns for both passenger and freight;

The MTO is responsible for:

 10.4 million registered vehicles

 8.5 million drivers
 55 driver examination centres & 37 travel points (both operated by Serco DES Inc, as
DriveTest Centres)
 281 privately owned Driver and Vehicle Licence Issuing Offices across the province
 GO Transit
 16525 kilometres of provincial highway
 ServiceOntario kiosks

Air transport is under the jurisdiction of Transport Canada (federal).

(d) Improved and/or New Passenger Rail Service – Increased or new passenger rail service
(i.e. for commuter and tourist travel) within existing rail corridors and/or along new rail
corridors.;

The management of railway safety in Ontario

The Canada Transportation Act (1996, c.10) [CTA] provides for agreements between the
Minister of Transportation (or a designate) and a provincial minister responsible for
transportation matters concerning the administration of any law respecting railway
safety, accident investigation and railway crossings.

MTO has joint jurisdiction with Transport Canda for railway service in Ontario.

(e) Improved and/or New Goods Movement by Rail – Increased freight rail services for goods
movement within existing rail corridors and/or along new rail corridors will encourage the
diversion of freight from trucks. The ability to expand rail service and divert longer haul
goods to rail may provide some relief to network congestion both on regional arterials and on
the provincial highway network;

Sane as above.

(f) Improved and/or New Marine Service – Bordering on three lakes; Lake Ontario, Lake
Simcoe and Lake Scugog, the Region of Durham has over 132 km of shoreline. With seven
of eight of the area municipalities having access to these shorelines, there is potential to use
waterways (as seasons/weather permits) as a component of the transportation network;

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Transport Canada promotes efficient marine transportation and safe, secure and sustainable marine
practices; oversees marine infrastructure; regulates the safe transportation of dangerous goods by
water; and helps protect the marine environment.

(g) Improved and/or New Roadways/Transitways – The provision of improved capacity and
operations on existing facilities and/or accommodating required capacity on new facilities
may increase the performance of the transportation network. Continuance of current
dependence on auto for travel by residents of Durham will place additional pressures on area
roadways. Congestion may be relieved through additional capacity on existing roadways or
by introducing capacity in new corridors;

This alternative may involve regional and municipal roads.

(h) Improved and/or New Transit Services – Expanding the capacity of the transit system
through increased services within the existing transportation network and/or accommodating
new transit services on new infrastructure may relieve congestion and increase the performance of
the transportation network.

This alternative may involve regional and municipal transit services.