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Background
Over the last several decades the “Greater Golden Horseshoe” (GGH) has evolved from a Toronto based employment centre to a large geographic region with many centres of economic activity, employment, and population. Travel demand is now more dispersed, with travel occurring between many employment and residential areas within and outside the Greater Toronto Area (GTA). Future population and employment growth in major urban centres will result in an increase in travel demand for both people and goods movement between these centres that are spread across the GGH.
Additionally, the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe (the Growth Plan) was released in June 2006. The Growth Plan outlines a set of policies for managing growth and development and guiding planning decisions in the GGH over the next 30 years. This plan represents a planning “vision” for the Province of Ontario (the Province). The Places to Grow Act (2005) requires that planning decisions made by the Province, municipalities and other authorities conform to the policies contained in the Growth Plan.
The Province also established the Greenbelt Plan (2005) through the Greenbelt Act (2005). Together, the Greenbelt Plan and the Growth Plan provide clarity and certainty about urban structure, where and how future growth should be accommodated, and what must be protected for current and future generations in the GGH area.
It is important that the Province takes a comprehensive and long-term approach in planning for future transportation infrastructure. This study will reflect the government policy objectives as outlined in the Growth Plan. These policy objectives call for a transportation network that links “Urban Growth Centres” through an integrated system of transportation modes characterized by efficient public transit, rail and a highway system for moving people and goods with improved access to inter-modal facilities, international gateways (e.g., airports, border crossings, etc.), airports and transit hubs. As identified in the Growth Plan the Urban Growth Centres within the Brantford to Cambridge Transportation Corridor Analysis Area include Downtown Brantford and Downtown Cambridge.
As economic activities in the GGH evolve from a Toronto Central Business District-based condition to an economy of multiple centres, the Brantford and Cambridge Urban Growth Centres are recognized as increasingly important areas. The increasing concentration of population and employment in the Brantford and Cambridge areas introduces new transportation challenges in the western portion of the GGH. It is therefore important that these economic centres have adequate transportation linkages for the continuing needs of commuter travel which provide the economic workforces, and for goods movement between these centres.
To realize the Growth Plan’s policy directions, MTO is undertaking the Brantford to Cambridge Environmental Assessment. The EA process will identify and validate the Area Transportation System problems and opportunities and evaluate a variety of alternatives to address them. MTO will coordinate with other ministries and municipalities as the EA moves forward.
Purpose
Statement of Study Purpose
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To prepare a transportation development strategy to address long-term Area Transportation System problems and opportunities (to 2031) relative to the inter-regional movement of people and goods in the Brantford-Cambridge area.
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To prepare plans and conceptual designs for any provincial roadway components of that transportation development strategy. Provincial roadways include provincial highways (which could include inter-regional transit infrastructure and/or High Occupancy Vehicle lanes on the highway) and/or provincial transitways (which are separate inter-regional transit facilities directly associated with a provincial highway)
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This study purpose may be refined as determined appropriate during the EA to reflect study findings and input received through consultation and engagement. |
Preliminary Statement of Transportation Problems and Opportunities
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There is inadequate transportation capacity to meet current and projected long-term needs (to 2031) for the efficient inter-regional movement of both people and goods between the Urban Growth Centres of downtown Brantford and downtown Cambridge, and between Highways 403 and 401 in the Brantford-Cambridge area. Corridors and rights-of-way have not been planned for and protected to meet those needs.
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Connectivity within the provincial highway system is not maintained between Highways 403 and 401 in the Brantford-Cambridge area, as Highway 24 traffic passes through the built-up areas of Brantford and Cambridge on municipal roads. Highway 8 has the same inadequate connection through Cambridge to Highway 401.
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The urban function and forecasted intensification of the built-up areas of Brantford and Cambridge are constrained by inter-regional traffic using the municipal roads to travel through those built-up areas.
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There is no inter-regional transit linking the Urban Growth Centres of downtown Brantford and downtown Cambridge. Accordingly, there is no choice among transportation modes for moving people between those centres.
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There are no inter-modal facilities or associated linkages to the provincial highway system within the Analysis Area.
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Geometric and traffic safety characteristics on Highway 24 between Brantford and Cambridge, and on Highway 8 south of Cambridge, are not appropriate to address forecasted needs in a manner that facilitates their safe and efficient use for movement of people and goods.
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There is no comprehensive highway access management plan for Highway 24 between Brantford and Cambridge, and for Highway 8 south of Cambridge, to protect highway function/operation/safety, and to discourage inappropriate highway-related land development/growth.
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Area Transportation System planning and local land use planning in the analysis area need to be coordinated, in order to ensure that new/intensified development associated with forecasted population and employment growth in Brantford and Cambridge does not negatively affect or even preclude alternatives to address inter-regional area transportation system problems and opportunities.
Area Transportation System planning and local land use planning in the Analysis Area need to be co-ordinated, in order to ensure that new/intensified development associated with forecasted population and employment growth in Brantford and Cambridge does not negatively affect or even preclude alternatives to address inter-regional area transportation system problems and opportunities.
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This preliminary statement of inter-regional problems and opportunities may be refined as appropriate during the EA to reflect study findings and input received through consultation and engagement. |
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