Highway 15 Class EA - About
Highway 15 Class EA - About
About the Project
Highway 15 is a major artery in the east end of the city, an area that has changed a great deal over the past decade. In order to review the future transportation needs of Highway 15, the City is undertaking a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Class EA) study.
The Highway 15 Class EA is considering the current and future transportation needs of pedestrians, cyclists, Kingston Transit and vehicles in light of the recent and expected growth in this area. Residents will have been asked for their input at several points in the process and public open houses were held to gather input.
The Class EA study area includes:
- Highway 15 from the 401 to Highway 2, and
- Highway 2 from the La Salle Causeway to Princess Mary Avenue. In addition, prior development approvals to close Biscayne Street at Highway 15 will be reviewed as part of this study in the context of the current and future transportation network.
The City contracted HDR Corporation to assist with the Class EA to:
- Evaluate alternative solutions and design concepts to improve traffic flow.
- Assess the possible environmental effects of implementing various solutions and identify possible ways to mitigate any adverse impacts.
- Recommend a preferred alternative.
- Prepare a required Environmental Study Report to be submitted to the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
How will the City use the results of Class EA?
- The results of this EA are documented in an environmental study report (ESR) that explains the evaluation used to determine a preferred solution for Highway 15.
- The ESR will include conceptual level plans of proposed improvements and/or facility modifications that will best meet the transportation needs of the Highway 15 corridor at present and in the future.
- The ESR will also contain high level costing to assist staff and Council in budgeting.
- The results will be presented to Council for approval and, if approved, form the basis for more detailed design and ultimately implementation.
What's going on at Biscayne Street and Highway 15?
- Prior subdivision approvals are conditional upon the closure of Biscayne Street at Innovation Drive South pending the construction (completed) and City's assumption (not completed) of Pauline Tom Avenue
- Biscayne Street was opened to traffic on Highway 15 to temporarily facilitate the build out of subdivision lands until an alternate access for the residential lands west of Highway 15 was constructed (Pauline Tom Avenue), at which time Biscayne Street would be closed and converted to a cul de sac
- Since these approvals were granted in principle, many changes have occurred in this area such as the transfer of ownership of Highway 15 from the Province to the City, the creation of the St. Lawrence Business Park and opening of commercial establishments in the vicinity
- The City will evaluate if Biscayne Street should be open or closed at Highway 15 and then, based on those results, determine a design solution that works best with the preferred design of Highway 15
- Evaluation will include an intersection analysis as part of the EA process in conjunction with input from the public and stakeholders
- At the completion of this study, a recommendation will be made for consideration by Council
What is a Class Environmental Assessment?
- A Class Environmental Assessment (EA) is an evaluation of the possible impacts, both positive or negative, that a proposed project may have on the environment as a whole. An EA provides the framework for a seamless, open, transparent, and traceable decision-making process involving public and agency consultation, including consultation with First Nations
- The purpose of this particular EA is to ensure that City Council considers the potential impacts, including but not limited to environmental, social, cultural, heritage, archeological, ecological, biological, and financial impacts, in reviewing the current and future transportation needs on Highway 15 and determining a preferred solution
- This EA is proceeding as a Schedule ‘C' undertaking, in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class Environmental Act, October 2000, as amended in 2007 and 2011 - More information of the EA process is available on the Municipal Class EA website