Highway 7 Corridor and Vaughan N-S Link Public Transit Improvements Environmental Assessment

York Region has had the greatest proportional increase in population and employment among the four suburban regions of the Greater Toronto Area over the past 10 years.
Much of this anticipated growth in York Region is targeted to live and/or work in the southern areas, which include the Highway 7 corridor. This growth will generate a proportionate increase in travel demand. While it is expected there will be a greater segment of the population living and working within the Region itself, north-south travel demand between the Region and the City of Toronto will also increase in the Vaughan North-South Link corridor.

Three out of the four regional centres identified in the Regional Official Plan are located along the Highway 7 corridor – Vaughan Corporate Centre, Richmond Hill Centre, and Markham Centre. In addition, York University is immediately adjacent to the corridor.

The long-term vision for Highway 7 is for it to develop into a multi-use urban street that supports an integrated community where residents live, work, play, and learn. The Highway 7 corridor links the three regional centres that serve as compact mixed-use areas and are intended as focal points for business, government, and culture.

Complementary medium and high-density residential development, as well as historical and main-street areas, employment and business parks and rural and natural areas, will round out the development in the corridor.

The purpose of the EA undertaking can be summarized as:

• Providing improved public transit infrastructure and service in the network's primary east-west corridor and western north-south corridor capable of reducing road congestion by increasing transit ridership significantly both within the corridor and across the network and regional boundary.

• Integrating public transit facilities in a manner that improves and enriches streetscapes with new amenities by using a holistic urban design approach to support the Region's goals for mixed-use transit-oriented development along the corridor.

The proposed Highway 7 Corridor transit improvements are envisioned as urban public transit service, complementary to the inter-regional rapid transit system described in
GO Transit's BRT study, and interconnected with other transit services including conventional bus services, GO Transit, and the TTC network.

Transportation and Environmental Planning studies took place between 2002 and 2004. The recently approved ToR set the framework for compiling these study findings into the EA Report. These studies also included a public consultation program (open houses, meetings, and public information centres) to encourage public input. The following is a brief synopsis of the information presented at the public information centres held to meet the requirements for the Highway 7 and Vaughan N-S Link Corridor.

• Terms of Reference (PDF 259KB)
• Appendices and Background Documents (PDF 1.5MB)
• Figures (PDF 2.39MB)
• Notice of ToR Submission (PDF 30KB)
• Terms of Reference (PDF 6.4MB)
• Needs and Justification Report (PDF 12.2MB)

Click here for the Environmental Assessment (EA) Report -August 2005

Environmental Assessment Compliance Monitoring Program

CMP Notice of submission.pdf
Highway 7 Transitway Compliance Monitoring Program August 2008.pdf

July 2007

Notice of Submission for Response to Conditions of Approval
Vaughan North-South Link Subway Alignment Optimization Report

The Highway 7 Corridor and Vaughan North-South Link Public Transit Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA) was approved by the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) in November, 2006. The Highway 7 and Vaughan North-South Link EA was submitted to the MOE prior to the Toronto Transit Commission's (TTC) Spadina Subway Extension EA from Downsview Station to Steeles Avenue. At the time of the York Region's submission, the final alignment of the TTC's subway extension crossing Steeles Avenue had not been selected. As a result, MOE required York Region, as a condition of EA approval, to select an optimum location for the alignment of the subway to connect to the TTC's proposed subway alignment. The Regional Municipality of York (Proponent) followed a public process to determine the amended location for the alignment of the subway route south of Highway 407, required to link into the TTC station and rail track alignment at Steeles Avenue. The Response to Conditions of Approval, Vaughan North-South Link Subway Alignment Optimization Report summarizes the analysis of the alternatives, the public process undertaken, the consultation with the public and agencies and the commitments made by York Region, to mitigate any effects of the final location of subway facilities.

Click here to view the Notice of Submission.

To view the Vaughan North-South Link Subway Alignment Optimization Report Click on the following links:

Table of Contents
1. Introduction
2 Analysis of Alignment Alternatives to tie into TTC's Preferred Alignment

3. Description of the Optimized VNSL Subway Extension

4. Assessment of Effects of Optimized Design on Environment

5. Implementation

6. Public and Agency Involvement

List of Figures

1. Figure 2-1: Alignment Alternatives

2. Figure 2-2: Elevated and Combination Profile Alternatives

3. Figure 2-3: Preferred Profile

4. Figure 3-1: Preferred Alignment

5. Figure 3-2: Horizontal and Vertical Alignments (STA. 0+400 to STA. 1+000)

6. Figure 3-3: Horizontal and Vertical Alignments (STA. 1+000 to STA. 1+600)

7. Figure 3-4: Horizontal and Vertical Alignments (STA. 1+600 to STA. 2+200)

8. Figure 3-5: Horizontal and Vertical Alignments (STA. 2+200 to STA. 2+800)

9. Figure 3-6: Horizontal and Vertical Alignments (STA. 2+800 to STA. 3+311.71)

10. Figure 3-7: Cross Sections for the Tunneled Running Structure and Stations

11. Figure 3-8: Highway 407 Station Intermodal Facility

12. Figure 3-9: Isometric Highway 407 Station

13. Figure 3-10: Highway 407 Station Potential Transit Routes

14. Figure 3-11: VCC Station

15. Figure 3-12: VCC Station Ultimate YRT-VIVA Transit Routes

16. Figure 3-13: VCC Station Interim YRT-VIVA Transit Routes

17. Figure 3-14: Isometric VCC Station

Appendices (Supplemental Document)

Appendix A: Geotechnical / Hydrogeological Assessment – Golder Associates
Appendix B: Natural Sciences Report – Existing Conditions – LGL Limited
Click here for Photographic Record
Click here for the Natural heritage and preferred alignment map
Appendix C: Action for Comments Received from the Government Review Team

Public Meeting, Vaughan North-South Link - November 2006

An upcoming Public Consultation Centre is scheduled for November 28, 2006 (click here to see notice).

The purpose of this Public Consultation Centre is to present the following:

1. Project Background
2. Alignment Alternatives
3. Evaluation of Alternatives
4. Selection of Preferred Alternative
5. Station Requirements
6. Assessment of Effects on the Environment

To view the display boards see below:

1. Welcome
2. EA process
3. Summary
4. Provincial Announcement
5. Study Area
6. City Shaping and Urban Form
7. Alignment Alternatives

8. Preferred Alternative Description
9. Steeles Station

10. 407 Intermodal Station
11. Highway 7 Station
12. Transit Routes
13. What Next

Notice of Submission

Highway 7 Corridor and Vaughan North-South Link Public Transit Improvements Individual Environmental Assessment

The Regional Municipality of York (Region) has completed the Highway 7 Corridor and Vaughan North-South Link Public Transit Improvements Environmental Assessment (EA) which addresses public transit improvements in the Highway 7 Corridor extending from Highway 50 to York-Durham Line. In addition, the undertaking also includes a median transitway in the Vaughan North-South Link between Highway 7 and York University, with eventual replacement of this transitway by an extension of the Spadina Subway from Steeles Avenue at York University to Highway 7. The proposed transitway will be designed to accommodate both Bus and Light Rail Transit vehicle technologies. The EA is being submitted to the Ministry of the Environment (MOE) for formal review as required under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act (EAA).

Anyone wishing to make comments regarding the EA must submit their comments in writing and/or by fax to the Ministry of the Environment by October 26, 2005. Click here to see Notice of Submission

Final Environmental Assessment (EA) Report -August 2005

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Public Meeting (Markham), Related Highway 7 Widening – October 2004

Information about the widening of Highway 7 from four to six lanes, including the construction of a centre median partially for rapid transit use, between Woodbine Avenue (Montgomery Road) and Sciberras Road was presented in the form of an open house display, included: the rapid transit service background and description of the technically preferred alternative; the need and justification for roadway improvements on Highway 7 between Woodbine Avenue and Sciberras Road; the planning alternatives to reduce traffic congestion in this portion of Highway 7; and a presentation of the technically preferred alternative for the widening of Highway 7.

Public Meeting #4 - September 2004

Public consultations were held to present: transportation solutions considered, rapid transit technology and route evaluation conclusions, preferred transitway routes and station locations, property requirements, urban design and streetscaping images, effects of widening of Yonge Street and Highway 7 for the transit lanes, and measures to accommodate traffic circulation and replace left turns into local streets, and properties along the route. To view the selected display materials click here.

Public Meeting #3 - June 2003

The purpose of this meeting was to provide an update of existing conditions and route alternatives being considered, the evaluation of the route alternatives and the recommended technically preferred route. The proposed transitway design including stations and alignment, as well as the effects of widening of Highway 7 for the transit lanes was presented. A copy of the display materials can be viewed here.

Public Meeting #2 - January 2003

The purpose of this meeting was to provide an update on the existing conditions and illustrate the transit route alternatives in the corridor. It also provided a preliminary evaluation of the routes for the public to consider and presented the evaluation criteria that will be used to evaluate the design alternatives. A copy of the display materials can be viewed here.

Public Meeting #1 - October 2002

The purpose of this meeting was to introduce the public to the Yonge Street Corridor. It also provides an overview of the key elements of the Terms of Reference that have been developed, which illustrate the travel demand and demonstrate the anticipated challenges along the corridor. A copy of the display materials can be viewed here.

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