FAQs

An MCEA is a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment. This study falls under Schedule C Phases 1 through 4 which includes Identifying the Problem or Opportunity, Developing Alternative Solutions to address the problems and opportunities, Developing Alternative Design Concepts for the Preferred Solution, and preparing an Environmental Study Report. To learn more about the MCEA process please visit https://municipalclassea.ca/manual.

The study started in Fall 2020 and will conclude in early 2024.

The study area includes all land within the right-of-way for Garner Road from Wilson Street to Highway 403 Off Ramp.

Two transportation master plans have provided recommendations for the study area: Ancaster Transportation Master Plan and Airport Employment Growth District Transportation Master Plan. The Garner Road/Rymal Road and Garth Street Class EA was completed on the neighbouring road section, east of the study area.

The proposed changes to the transportation infrastructure will be focused on the public right-of-way (ROW). However, if the ROW is too narrow on some sections of the road, we will investigate opportunities to modify the cross-section so it can be accommodated on public property. Should this not be feasible, the project team will ensure early and thorough communication with impacted property owners.

The study aims to create a consistent and well-connected pedestrian network along the length of the study corridor. This includes providing sidewalks and other pedestrian amenities. Previous studies have recommended on-road bicycle lanes along this corridor which will also be assessed during this study.

Improvements to active transportation are being recommended as part of the project. This may include separated bike lanes, multi-use paths, sidewalks, etc. Separated bike lanes and sidewalks have been included in the potential alternative cross-sections presented at Public Information Centre (PIC) #1. Additional work on possible active transportation options will be included in PIC#2.

At this time, the potential active transportation facilities being considered for the study are separated bike lanes and sidewalks. The conceptual cross-section presented on Slide 12 of the PIC #1 presentation provides a typical cross section of the corridor, showing vehicular lanes, and their separation from the proposed sidewalks and bike lanes. Where feasible, a boulevard will be used to provide physical separation of the active transportation facilities from the vehicular lanes.

Based on criteria identified in the City of Hamilton’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP), Garner Road is a Transitioning Avenue. The City of Hamilton Complete-Livable-Better (CLB) Streets Policy and Framework describes a Transitioning Avenue as:

“Transitioning Avenues are major streets that cross the city east-west or north-south with standard right-of-way widths of 36 and 46 metres. They are generally located in commercial or residential areas that are transitioning to a more urbanized and mixed-use context. These streets are expected to undergo a transition from a built form context such as large format retail to medium or high-density mixed-use development or from low-density residential to medium or high density residential. As this occurs it is expected that new development will be more street oriented. Transitioning Avenues will continue to be designed to accommodate transit and active transportation and higher vehicle capacity. As such, transit vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians should have a greater proportion of dedicated space within the planned right-of-way. Transitioning Avenues are also major goods movement corridors. They may additionally include a centre median and dedicated turning lanes.”

A review of the existing built heritage resources and cultural heritage landscapes within the study area will be completed. The City of Hamilton Heritage Mapping and Resources has identified several heritage properties within the study area. Any potential impacts will be mitigated to the extent possible and will be shared as the study progresses.

The focus of this study is to assess options to improve active transportation, transit, traffic, and stormwater management throughout the corridor. Through the improvements to active transportation and transit, the public will have better access to additional transportation opportunities throughout the corridor, reducing the quantity of motor vehicle travel. Overall, this shift in transportation methods will help to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. In addition, stormwater management improvements will increase resiliency to climate change events, such as extreme rainfall. The measures implemented as part of the project will better manage stormwater run-off and reduce the risk of flooding.

As part of the environmental assessment study, an inventory of the existing natural environment in the area will be completed through field investigations, background research and consultation with the Hamilton Conservation Authority (HCA). A Natural Heritage Assessment Report will be prepared to summarize the findings.

Tree removal will be required as part of this project. At this time, the quantity of tree removal is not known, but impacts to the trees will be avoided and mitigated to the extent possible. As part of the study, opportunities for streetscaping and landscaping improvements will be taken into consideration where feasible.

The project team is aware of the diverse natural environment surrounding Garner Road. The Garner Marsh has been identified as an Unevaluated Wetland as part of the Natural Environment Existing Conditions assessment. Potential impacts to the natural environment are being considered as part of the evaluation of potential alternative cross-sections. Any potential impacts will be mitigated to the extent possible and will be shared as the study progresses.

Wildlife corridor crossings are being considered as part of the overall improvements to provide safe passage for wildlife to pass under the roadway, and to reduce the risk of collision with motor vehicles. The location of the wildlife crossings will be determined as the study progresses. A Natural Environment Assessment Report is being undertaken as part of this study, and will document potential impacts and appropriate mitigation measures to reduce potential negative effects. This information will be incorporated into the final Environmental Study Report.

We will identify adjacent properties that are still using wells for drinking water and septic beds for sanitary servicing. The design of new connections is not within the scope of the current study. The need for servicing improvements will be flagged for future connections when either redevelopment occurs, or when either sanitary sewer or watermain improvements are completed in the future. These additional works will be coordinated with City departments responsible for overseeing subsurface improvements.

The environmental assessment study will take until early-2025 to complete. If endorsed by Council and there are no outstanding issues with the study, then detailed design work can begin. It is anticipated that detailed design would take approximately 1 to 2 years. Tender of construction would be able to occur once detailed design is complete. The timing of both detailed design and construction are subject to change depending on the road reconstruction program and other coordinated works.

A Noise Assessment Study is being undertaken as part of the study. The findings will be presented as the study progresses, including the need for noise mitigation measures (i.e. noise barriers, landscaping, etc.). The noise assessment will use current and projected future traffic data to model the sound levels caused by road traffic with and without the proposed improvements.

Garner Road is currently a truck route and is anticipated to remain a truck route.

We will review the history of collisions along the corridor to identify areas which may benefit from design changes to improve safety for all road users. We will also look at the design of pedestrian and cycling connections to support safe streets for vulnerable road users.

Garner Road falls along the S-Line route (future bus rapid transit) of Hamilton’s BLAST Rapid Transit network and is, therefore, a transit-priority corridor. Transit priority corridors include features (transit priority measures) that give transit priority over general traffic, with the goal being to improve attractiveness and efficiency of the transit system. There are a number of different measures that can be considered when designing a transit priority corridor and, through the Garner Road EA, we will be looking at which features will benefit this segment of the S-Line route.

The existing posted speed limit of Garner Road is 60 km/hr. The speed limit is not anticipated to change as part of these improvements but will be confirmed during future phases of the project.

A designated two-way left turn lane is being considered in alternative cross-section Options 1 and 3.

Winter maintenance will remain unchanged from the current process. Sidewalks in Ancaster are cleared by the City, and any new bike lanes will also be cleared by the City. View more information about the City’s Snow Clearing practices