This Study will follow the approved planning process for a Group ‘B’ project under the Ministry of Transportation’s Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024). We will generate and evaluate alternatives based on technical and environmental factors, consulting with Indigenous communities, municipalities, regulatory and review agencies, members of the public, and other stakeholders. During this Study, we will hold two rounds of Public Information Centres to provide interested parties with the opportunity to discuss the Study and provide input to the Project Team.
A Transportation Environmental Study Report will be prepared to outline the environmental assessment process, consultation, impacts, mitigation measures, and preliminary design details. Upon completion, the Transportation Environmental Study Report will be placed on the public record for a 30-day public comment period.
There is an opportunity at any time during the Study for interested persons to provide input to the Project Team, including comments and information regarding the Study. Comments are being collected to assist the Ministry of Transportation with the preliminary design and to meet the requirements of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. This material will be maintained on file for use during the Study and may be included in Study documentation. Information collected will be used in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.
Ontario Environmental Assessment Act - Ministry of Transportation Class Environmental Assessment Process
The purpose of the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act is to help protect and conserve Ontario's environment by ensuring that projects subject to the Act follow a planning process that leads to environmentally sound decision-making.
The Ontario Ministry of Transportation’s Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024) outlines the Environmental Assessment process for specific groups of provincial transportation projects. This Class Environmental Assessment is approved under the Act and provides a streamlined process that projects or activities within a defined “class” must follow. As long as this process is adhered to, projects and activities included under the Class Environmental Assessment do not require formal review and approval under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.
Project groupings within the Class Environmental Assessment have been established as follows:
Group "A"
Projects are new provincial transportation facilities and highway/freeway realignments, as well as new municipal expressway facilities and municipal expressway realignments.
Group "B"
Projects modify access or add capacity to existing provincial transportation facilities or municipal expressways, and include new service/maintenance/operations facilities.
Group "C"
Projects are improvements to existing transportation facilities or municipal expressway facilities.
Group "D"
Projects involve the operation, maintenance, administration, and miscellaneous work for provincial transportation facilities. These projects are exempt from the Class Environmental Assessment requirements.
For projects subject to the Class Environmental Assessment, an environmental assessment involves identifying and planning for environmental issues and effects before implementing a project. This process allows reasonable opportunities for public involvement in the decision-making process.
Other aspects of the environmental assessment process applicable to these project types are detailed in the Class Environmental Assessment for Provincial Transportation Facilities and Municipal Expressways (2024). If you're interested in learning more about these matters, we encourage you to refer to that document.
Schedule
Study schedule of anticipated key milestone dates:
Note: Study schedule is subject to change and will be updated throughout the Study.
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