FAQs

The study area includes all land within the right-of-way for Rymal Road from 100 meters west of Upper James to 100 meters east of Dartnall Road. Only the signalized intersections along the study corridor will be considered for addition or modification of turning lanes.

The City of Hamilton’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) has identified Rymal Road as 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.”

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

We will identify adjacent properties that are still using wells and septic beds for drinking water and sanitary servicing.  The design of new connections is not within the scope of the current study. But the addresses that need servicing improvements will be flagged for future connections when either redevelopment occurs, or sanitary sewer or watermain improvements are completed in the future.

It is anticipated that most of the proposed changes to transportation infrastructure will be limited to 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 that it can be accommodated on public property and/or the need for additional property is minimized. Access driveways to adjacent properties along Rymal Road will also be reviewed to limit potential impacts.

Yes. Rymal Road is currently a truck route and is anticipated to remain a truck route.

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. Learn more about the MCEA process

The study aims to create a consistent and well-connected pedestrian and cycling network along the length of the study corridor. This includes providing sidewalks. The study will examine opportunities to implement mid-block pedestrian cross-overs at key locations in order to improve pedestrian accessibility, connectivity and safety. Previous studies have recommended a multi-use pathway be located within the right-of-way to improve cyclist accessibility, this will be investigated. Improved connections to surrounding existing cycling and pedestrian networks will also be identified.

Rymal Road is a recommended component of the S-Line of Hamilton’s proposed BLAST Rapid Transit corridor (future bus rapid transit). The implementation of rapid transit is not anticipated during the study period, but the study will consider the future station facilities and supportive infrastructure needed for the future bus route.