Report to/Rapport àu:

Transportation and Transit Committee/

Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun

and Council/et au Conseil

21 March 2001 / 21 mars 2001

Submitted by/Soumis par: Ned Lathrop, General Manager/Directeur général,

Development Services/Services de développement communautaire

Contact/Personne-ressource: Vivi Chi, Manager, Transportation Infrastructure Gestionnaire, Infrastructure des transports

580-2424, ext. 21877, vivi.chi@city.ottawa.on.ca

Ref N°:ACS2001-DEV-POL-0007

File N°: 48-S-0018

SUBJECT: ALTA VISTA TRANSPORTATION CORRIDOR ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT STUDY - STATEMENT OF WORK (DRAFT)

OBJET: ÉTUDE D’ÉVALUATION ENVIRONNEMENTALE DU COULOIR DE CIRCULATION D’ALTA VISTA – ÉNONCÉ DES TRAVAUX (ÉBAUCHE)

REPORT RECOMMENDATION

That the Transportation and Transit Committee recommend Council approve the draft Statement of Work for the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor environmental assessment to be initiated this year.

RECOMMENDATION DU RAPPORT

Que le Comité des transports et des services de transport en commun recommande au Conseil municipal d’approuver l’ébauche de l’énoncé des travaux pour l’étude d’évaluation environnementale du couloir de circulation d’Alta Vista qui doit être amorcée cette année.

BACKGROUND

At their meeting on the 13 September 2000, Regional Council adopted the recommendations of the Alta Vista Drive/Smyth Road Transportation Strategy as contained in the Technical Study Report prepared by Delcan Consultants, in particular #7

"To ensure the timely delivery of the section of the Alta Vista Parkway between Smyth Road and Riverside Drive (with links to the Hospital Ring Road), and the ramps to the Southeast Transitway, appropriate funds need to be identified in the five year Budget of the new City of Ottawa to complete the Environmental Assessment Study of the Alta Vista Parkway between Conroy Road and the Queensway.”

The Alta Vista/Smyth Transportation Strategy Study had been carried out to determine the transportation infrastructure needs and timing to accommodate the anticipated development being planned and implemented in the vicinity of the Ottawa Hospitals Complex in Southeast Ottawa. (Copies of the Report can be obtained by contacting the Committee Coordinator at 580-2424 ext. 21624).

Among the many transportation infrastructure needs identified, the first phase of the proposed Alta Vista Parkway (Smyth Road to Riverside Drive) was anticipated to be in place by the end of the 10-year planning horizon (i.e., by approximately 2010).

In addition to the recommendations of the Alta Vista/Smyth Transportation Study, Regional Council also adopted the following motions:

“2. That Recommendation #7 of the Delcan Study be amended to ensure that when doing the Environmental Assessment, the Alta Vista Parkway be studied as a "bus/light rail only" route and as a "transit/vehicle route",

“3. That the next phase (i.e. phase 2) of the Alta Vista Parkway will consider the extension of the transitway from Smyth Road to Conroy Road and that the Environmental Assessment reflect this amendment", and

“6. That all Terms of Reference be approved by the Transportation Committee for Transportation Studies".

A draft of the terms of reference was presented to Committee on 21 February 2001. At that meeting, there was considerable debate regarding the legal definition of the Terms of Reference and the requirement for public consultation. For an approved Class EA - such as this Alta Vista Parkway undertaking - consultation during the development of the study terms of reference is not legally required, nevertheless Committee approved the following motion:

“That the Transportation and Transit Committee defer the draft terms of reference for 6 weeks until the communities impacted have had a chance to be consulted and their opinions considered.”

As such, Staff undertook a public consultation exercise to fulfill this direction. The details of this consultation are described in Appendix A.

The most important outcome of the public consultation exercise was the clarification that the draft terms of reference are in essence a statement of work. This statement of work will form the basis for the development of a consultant work program for the EA Study. To ensure clarity, from this point forward, the revised terms of reference will be referred to as the Statement of Work.

Planning Context

Guided by the Ontario Planning Act, the Official Plan (OP) contains Council’s objectives and policies for managing growth in Ottawa to the year 2021. The Transportation Master Plan (TMP) establishes infrastructure and program needs, and supporting policies for the City’s transportation system to the year 2021.

The Alta Vista Parkway (the current name of this facility in the OP) has been identified as a future roadway requirement in the Regional OP since 1974 and was reconfirmed as a future need in the 1997 TMP and OP. According to the TMP, the fundamental purpose of the Alta Vista Parkway is to provide additional arterial capacity in the Southeast Sector of the City of Ottawa to serve the urban development that has been planned and implemented there.

The form and function of this transportation facility is to be determined through the environmental assessment process, which will satisfy the requirements of the Provincial and Federal EA legislation. An environmental assessment is a planning tool which is utilized before irrevocable decisions are made about civic infrastructure proposals. The values and interests of the public/community groups are key elements that have to be considered in the evaluation and decision-making process. Effective public consultation on the form of the facility is fundamental in order to arrive at the most appropriate solution.

DISCUSSION

Draft Statement of Work

1.0 Work Plan

The major tasks for this project are proposed as follows:

1.1 Develop a Study Design

As a first step, a Study Design will be developed to ensure that all aspects of the environmental assessment will be addressed. Part of this task will be to liaison with Provincial and Federal authorities responsible for environmental assessment reviews to obtain their ruling on what EA requirements must be met (specific to this project). The Study Design will identify the various disciplines required to undertake a thorough EA with expertise in areas such as: air quality, noise, vibration, natural environment, social environment, archaeology, geotechnical, transportation planning and design, urban planning, landscape architect, etc. The Study Design will describe the major tasks of the EA, including a plan for development of alternatives as well as a process for evaluation of these alternatives. It will include a detailed public consultation program identifying the roles and responsibilities of the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), the Special Advisory Group, the Public Advisory Committee (PAC), as well as timelines and communication plan for the public Open Houses. The Study schedule will also high-light major milestones and decision-making steps. This Study Design will undergo public consultation with the Advisory Committees.

1.2 Revisit the Need and Justification for the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor

Following the acceptance of the Study Design, the EA work begins with the review of the need and justification for the Alta Vista transportation facility. Although the TMP dealt with the need issues (and recently confirmed through the work of the Alta Vista/Smyth Transportation Strategy Study), a re-examination of need and assumptions is required under the Provincial EA Act. This exercise will be carried out by forecasting travel demand for the Southeast Sector and determining both existing and future needs for the facility. The basis for this analysis will be primarily, but not limited to, past work such as:

· the Central Area Transportation Capacity Analysis (former City of Ottawa)

· the Environmental Assessment Study of Transportation Demands To and From the Southeast Sector (former Region),

· the Alta Vista/Smyth Planning Study (former City of Ottawa),

· the Region’s Alta Vista Drive/Smyth Road Transportation Strategy (former Region),

· the Train Lands Development Traffic Impact Study (D.J. Halpenny)

· all traffic impact studies that are or will be done for the Hospitals in the study area.

· the Limebank Road Environmental Assessment (City of Ottawa - not completed)

· River Ridge - Transportation Considerations (former City of Gloucester)

· Airport Parkway Expansion Traffic Impact Study (former Region)

· Southeast Transitway (former Region)

· Conroy Road Environmental Assessment (former Region)

· Hawthorne Environmental Assessment (former Region)

· Leitrim Early Servicing (former Region)

· McDonald-Cartier International Airport Master and Expansion Plans (Airport)

An examination of future traffic levels across screenlines and study area intersection level of service will also supplement the review. The travel demand analysis must consider various Transportation Demand Management (TDM) trip strategies including enhanced transit service in the corridor in accordance with TMP and ROP policies.

1.3 Examine and Document Existing Conditions

As with every EA, an inventory and assessment of the various existing conditions must be undertaken at the outset. These include, but are not limited to transportation, land use, utilities, social/human environment, physical environment, and natural environment. In addition, the Study will include investigations of any special aspects of the study area that should also be considered. For example: the effects on greenspace and natural areas, the effects on the Rideau River, the effects of noise on the adjacent communities, any archaeological potential, and the environmental implications of construction in the vicinity of the Rideau River at Lees Avenue. The inventory must be completed for the entire study area so that as alternatives are developed and analyzed, the cumulative effects can be examined.

1.4 Develop Evaluation Criteria and Evaluation Process

To expand on the general evaluation process described in the Study Design, a list and description of the evaluation criteria to be used to assess the various alternatives will be developed. Along with the criteria list, the detailed evaluation methodology will also be reviewed by the PAC and TAC.

1.5 Develop Alternatives to the Undertaking and Alternative Alignments

The TMP recommended the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor be a new four lane arterial roadway with the lane configurations to be assessed in accordance with past Council directions. This Study will also investigate many infrastructure and alternative options such as:

· a bus/rail only corridor

· transit/HOV lanes

· mixed-use facilities

· do nothing

· transportation demand management

· alternate routes (other corridors)

· park and rides

· bicycle lanes, sidewalks and recreational paths

The different alternatives will be developed with input from the Advisory Committees and will be presented to the public for comments at several Open Houses throughout the Study (see section on Public Consultation Plan). Developing and examining a full range of options complies with the EA Act requirement that alternative solutions for the undertaking be assessed.

1.6 Develop a Recommended Plan

The alternatives developed in Task 1.5 will be assessed and evaluated as to their affects on the natural, social, urban, economic and transportation environments. To ensure that all of the impacts are identified, it would be necessary to carry out investigations such as: noise, air quality, vibration, natural areas and wildlife habitats, stormwater management, geotechnical surveys, traffic impacts, accessibility and safety, landscape design, property impacts and any other research that would be required to properly define the cumulative effects of the facility.

Alternatives will be compared to each other with the ultimate goal of formulating a preferred solution. This solution would have to meet the transportation needs while at the same time minimizing adverse affects to the other environments (natural, social, urban, economic). The preferred option could be one or a combination of alternatives. Staging of the preferred option will also be considered. The recommended plan will include a coordinated centre-line, cross-section and configuration, property envelope, potential construction phasing, and preliminary cost estimates for budgetary purposes.

This exercise will be carried out with input from the Advisory Committees and the results will be presented at an Open House.

1.7 Environmental Study Report (ESR)

The Study deliverable will be the ESR which documents the entire environmental assessment including the recommended solution and any appropriate mitigation plans. A draft ESR will be circulated to the TAC, Special Advisory Group, PAC and any other approval agencies for comment. The final ESR, incorporating all pertinent comments, will be prepared and made available to the public for the formal 30-day Review Period as outlined in the Class EA requirements.

2.0 Public Consultation Plan

There will be a comprehensive communications and public consultation effort to ensure that all stakeholders are aware of the project and have an opportunity to provide input in a timely manner. The communications plan consists of Study notifications and the consultation program.

2.1 Notifications

The public will be informed of the Study commencement, public meetings (Open Houses), and Study completion. Notifications will be sent out at appropriate stages in the Study, and each announcement will take the following forms:

· advertisements in daily newspapers (The Ottawa Citizen, The Ottawa Sun, Le Droit);

· advertisements in community papers (The Centretown News, The Alta Vista News, The Hunt Club News, the Vistas, L’Image, Riverviews, the Glebe Report, Centretown Buzz, OSCAR, The News - Greenboro/Hunt Club Park and Hunt Club/Riverside editions, Mainstreeter);

· mail drop flyers;

· road signs along the study corridor (at Walkley Road, Smyth Road, Riverside Drive, Alta Vista Drive, Lees Avenue); and

· City’s website - dedicated specifically to this project.

Councillors will be informed in advance of any public notification regarding this project. Councillors will also have the opportunity to attend status update meetings, which will typically be scheduled in advance of public open houses.

2.2 Consultation

The consultation program will consist of meetings with stakeholders through advisory committees, and meetings with the general public through Open Houses. Stakeholders will be organized into various groups, which will meet with the Study Team at key stages to review and comment on the Study findings. Each advisory group meeting will be chaired by the Study Team’s Project Manager. The 3 advisory groups are:

· Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

· Special Advisory Group (Hospitals, Health Care Agencies, etc.)

· Public Advisory Committee (PAC)

The Study Team will be responsible for reporting to each group the comments and recommendations of the other advisory groups as well as comments from the general public.

2.2.1 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC)

The Committee’s role will be to address the full range of technical issues and to comment on all of the special studies required to fully assess the various alternatives and to ensure that the City is following the correct procedures and legislation. The TAC will include experts in their related fields from government agencies and approval bodies with representation from the:

· NCC

· Department of Fisheries and Oceans

· Ministry of the Environment (MOE)

· Ministry of Transportation (MTO)

· Canadian National Railway/VIA Rail

· Transport Canada

· City’s Transportation, Utilities, and Public Works Department

à Traffic and Parking Operations

à Transit Services

à Infrastructure Services

· City’s Development Services Department

à Planning, Environment and Infrastructure Policy

à Planning and Infrastructure Approvals

à Building Services

· Conservation Authorities

2.2.2 Special Advisory Group

Due to the nature of the study area and the importance of the regional health care facilities and hospitals, a Special Advisory Group to deal with site-specific issues will have to be established. This Group will be consulted on matters such as specific development plans, access and egress issues, and environmental issues. Information coming from this Group will be used be the Study Team in the development and evaluation of alternatives. This Special Advisory Group will have representation from the:

· Canadian Blood Services;

· Canadian Dental Association;

· Canadian Medical Association;

· Canadian Pharmacists Association;

· Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and Research Institute;

· Conference Board of Canada;

· General Hospital and Eye Institute;

· National Defense Medical Centre; and

· Life Sciences Technology Park

2.2.3 Public Advisory Committee (PAC)

The study area for the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor spans many different communities with their own characteristics, needs, and values. In order to fully address both local and regional issues, a PAC will be established. Generally, the PAC membership consists of leaders of community associations that are directly affected by the Project. It is suggested that the PAC be made up of the following community groups:

· Riverview Park Community Association

· Alta Vista Drive Residents Association

· Faircrest Heights Community Association

· Alta Vista Community Association

· South Keys/Greenboro Community Association

· Hunt Club Park Community Association

· Action Sandy Hill

· City Centre Coalition

· Dow’s Lake Residence Association

· Old Ottawa East Community Association

· Old Ottawa South Community Association

· Centretown Community Association

Other stakeholder groups with interests in pedestrian, cycling, transit, mobility impaired, and women’s safety issues will be invited to participate on the PAC as well. Similar to the TAC schedule, the PAC will meet to review and comment on the findings at key stages in the Study.

As there may be other community groups that have an interest in the Study but may not be directly affected by the proposal, it has been suggested that the following be notified of PAC so that representatives may attend as “Observers”.

· Greenspace Alliance of Canada

· Sierra Club of Canada

· Environment Committee of Ottawa South

· Dalhousie Community Association

· Glebe Community Association

· Heron Park Community Association

· McNabb Neighbourhood Improvement Bunch

· Riverside Park Community and Recreation Association

· 160 Lees Avenue Apartment Buildings

· Federation of Citizens Association

· Coalition of Inner City Communities

· King Edward Avenue Task Force

· University of Ottawa

The Councillors for the wards directly effected by the Project will be notified of all PAC meetings and are welcome to attend.

2.2.4 Open Houses

In addition to the Advisory Committees, the Study Team will consult with the general public at three planned Open Houses. Information for review and comment at these formal Open Houses could be as follows:

Open House #1	Open House #2	Open House #3
· Introduction · Study Purpose · Need and Justification · Study Process & Schedule · Existing Conditions · Alternatives to the Undertaking · Evaluation Criteria · Preliminary Screening of Alternatives · Next Steps	· Development of Options · Evaluation Criteria · Assessment of Options · Environmental Effects · Next Steps	· Recommended Option · Mitigation Plan · Next Steps

At all Open Houses, there will be bilingual representatives from the Study Team and all presentation material will be in both official languages.

ENVIRONMENTAL IMPLICATIONS

All natural environmental impacts will be assessed in this Study. In addition, special investigations will take place in the vicinity of the Rideau River crossing where pollution of the Rideau River occurred during the construction of the Southeast Transitway.

CONSULTATION

Following the direction given to Staff on 21 February 2001, a public consultation exercise was carried out which led to this modified Report. The details are presented in Appendix A.

FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS

There are no immediate financial implications by approving this report.

The proposed 2001 Capital Budget includes the funding for the completion of the EA. Any funding requirements as a result of the recommendations from the Study will be included in future City of Ottawa Budgets as construction is approved.

ATTACHMENTS

Document 1 - Alta Vista Transportation Corridor - Location Plan

DISPOSITION

Following Committee and Council approval of this Statement of Work, the originating department will collaborate with Supply Services to prepare a Request for Qualifications and subsequently a Request for Proposals for the consultant assignment. The consultant selection process will follow the established practice with the posting of the Proposal Call on MERX.

This EA Study could take approximately 15 months to complete. There is urgency to get underway with the Study as soon as possible to meet the anticipated need for the section of the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor between Smyth Road and Riverside Drive (due to the quickly developing Hospitals and Health Science Center).

Alta Vista Transportation Corridor

Environmental Assessment Study - Location Plan Document 1

Appendix A

Alta Vista Transportation Corridor

Draft Terms of Reference - Public Consultation

Introduction

At the meeting on 21 February 2001, the Transportation and Transit Committee approved the following motion:

“That the Transportation and Transit Committee defer the draft terms of reference for 6 weeks until the communities impacted have had a chance to be consulted and their opinions considered.”

The purpose of this document is to summarize the public consultation exercise City Staff undertook to obtain the communities’ opinions of the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor environmental assessment draft terms of reference (report dated 8 February 2001).

Consultation

On 26 February 2001 an invitation letter (Exhibit 1) along with the draft study terms of reference was sent to approximately 73 different community representatives. This mailing list (Exhibit 2) was assembled with the assistance of Councillors Meilleur, Arnold, Doucet, Hume, and Deans. In order to report back to Transportation and Transit Committee within six weeks, the letter requested that written comments pertaining to the draft study terms of reference be submitted by 8 March 2001.

A total of 26 different submissions were received. For those who had submitted a response, a meeting was arranged on 13 March 2001 to review the summary of the comments and Staff’s proposed actions to address the issues raised (Exhibit 3). Twenty-three people signed in for this meeting. General planning principles, environmental assessment processes, and the consultant selection process were also discussed.

Conclusions

There was general acceptance of the proposed course of action to deal with the issues raised. The most important outcome of the public consultation exercise was the clarification that the draft terms of reference were in essence a “statement of work” and will form the basis for the development of a consultant work program. To ensure clarity, from this point forward, the revised draft terms of reference is referred to as the Statement of Work and has reflected the summary of comments and action plans described in Exhibit 3.

Exhibit 1 - Letter sent to Community Associations

26 February 2001

File Number 48-S-0018

Dear,

Re: Terms of Reference for the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor Environmental Assessment Study

The City of Ottawa is in the process of developing terms of reference that will be used to guide the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor Environmental Assessment Study. On February 21, 2001, City Staff presented the first draft of the terms of reference to the Transportation and Transit Committee. At the meeting, the following motion was passed:

“That the Transportation and Transit Committee defer the draft Terms of Reference for 6 weeks until the communities impacted have had a chance to be consulted and their opinions considered.”

Your Input:

To fulfill Committee's direction, we are sending you, as a community association representative, a copy of the draft terms of reference for your review. Please submit your written comments to us by no later than Thursday, 8 March 2001. All comments received will then be summarized and included in the next version of the terms of reference.

Invitation to a Meeting:

If you provide comments, you are also invited to a meeting to review all submissions and to discuss the approach that we will take to address the issues. The meeting details are as follows:

Colonel By Room (City Hall, 110 Laurier Avenue West, 2^nd Floor)

Tuesday, 13 March 2001

6:30pm to 9:30pm

RSVP: by 12 March 2001, by calling 580-2424 ext.22783

Yours truly,

Christopher Gordon, P. Eng.

Project Engineer

Development Services Department

City of Ottawa

Phone: 580-2424 ext. 22783

Fax: 560-6006

Email: christopher.gordon@city.ottawa.on.ca

cc: Transportation and Transit Committee.

Councillor Diane Deans.

Vivi Chi, Manager, Transportation and Infrastructure, Development Services Department.

Attach: Draft terms of reference

Exhibit 2: Mailing List

Abbotsford Seniors Centre	Arlington Avenue - Resident
Action Sandy Hill (2)	Aylmer Avenue - Resident
Alta Vista Community Association	Bank Street - Resident
Alta Vista Drive Residents Association	Bayview Road - Resident
Byward Market BIA	Belmont Avenue - Residents (3)
Canterbury CA	Besserer Street - Resident
Centre de ressources de la Basse-Ville	Bloor Avenue - Resident
Centre des services communautaires de Vanier	Broadway Avenue - Resident
Centretown Citizen’s CA	Cambridge Street South - Resident
City Centre Coalition	Centennial Blvd - Resident
Cooperative Brebeuf Inc.	Crescent Heights - Resident
Carleton University Students Association (2)	Colonel By Drive - Resident
Dow’s Lake Residents Association (2)	Drummond Street - Resident
Dalhousie CA	Grove Avenue - Residents (2)
Faircrest Heights CA	Harvard Avenue - Resident
Fairlea CA	Hopewell Avenue - Resident
Federation des etudiant(e)s l’Universite d’Ottawa	Lees Avenue - Resident
Glebe CA	Lorne Avenue - Resident
Glebe CA Traffic Committee	Marlowe Crescent - Resident
Heron Park CA	Mason Terrace - Resident
Hunt Club Park CA	McNaughton Avenue - Resident
King Edward Avenue Task Force	Montcalm Street - Resident
Lexington Tenants Association	Muriel Street - Resident
Lowertown West CA	Riverside Drive - Resident
McNabb Neighbourhood Improvement Bunch	Rosemere Avenue - Resident
Ottawa and Hawthorne Business Parks Assoc.	Spruce Street - Resident
Ottawa East CA	Sunnyside Avenue - Resident
Ottawa South CA	Willard Street - Resident
Rideau Street BIA	Windermere Avenue - Resident
Riverview Park CA (2)	Woodland Avenue - Resident
Rosebery Avenue Residents Committee Inc.
Roxborough Tenants Association
St. Georges Housing Cooperative
Sandy Hill Community Health Centre
South Keys/Greenboro CA
Strathcona Heights CA
Upper Hunt Club CA
Vanier BIA
Woodland Place Tenants Association

Exhibit 3 - Summary of Comments Received

Comment/Suggestion		Number of times comment was mentioned (submission #)	Action
a	Supports the Alta Vista Transportation Corridor Study Terms of Reference and or supports moving ahead with the EA.	5 (1, 2, 3, 16, 23)	Comment is noted.
b	Change Riverview Heights to Riverview Park.	2 (1,3)	This change has been made in the terms of reference.
c	The following publications should be used in the advertising public meetings: · Riverviews · the Glebe Report · Centretown Buzz · OSCAR · The News (Greenboro/Hunt Club Park and Hunt Club/Riverside editions)	4 (1, 3, 12, 15)	These publications will be included in the terms of reference and EA.
d	Supports past planning initiatives that suggest the AVTC should be a roadway.	1 (2)	Comment is noted.
e	The Special Advisory Group should include a representative from the Life Sciences Technology Park.	1 (2)	The Life Sciences Technology Park has been added to the Advisory Group.
f	The following Community Associations or Neighborhoods should be represented on the PAC: · Alta Vista Community Association · Alta Vista Drive Residents Association · Old Ottawa South Community Association · 160 Lees Ave Apartment Buildings · Federation of Citizens Association · Coalition of Inner City Communities · Dow’s Lake Community Association · Glebe Community Association · Centretown Community Association · Dalhousie Community Association · King Edward Avenue Task Force · Greenspace Alliance of Canada · Sierra Club of Canada · Environmental Committee of Ottawa South · University of Ottawa · Citizens for Safe Cycling	7 (2, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 20)	These community groups will have the opportunity to take part in the EA as either PAC members, Observers at PAC meetings, or as participants at the Open Houses.

Comment/Suggestion		Number of times comment was mentioned (submission #)	Action
g	There is a need to consider all aspects of the natural, social, urban, economic , transportation environments in the terms of reference: · greenhouse gases · carbon dioxide emissions · noise · natural areas - ‘NOSS’ · human · road vibration · accessibility and safety · pollution · costs · woodlot north of General Hospital (greenspace)	14 (3, 6, 8, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22)	All appropriate topics will be considered in detail during the EA. Special studies will be undertaken to measure the effects of the different alternatives.
h	The terms of reference should include the findings of the Alta Vista Drive/Smyth Road Transportation Strategy (including the anticipated amount of development ).	2 (4, 18)	The AVDSRTS and other recent development proposals such as the ‘Train Lands’ will be reflected in the EA process.
i	The terms of reference should include provision of a delay for the planning cycle to allow staff to fulfil obligations from the previous EA (Southeast Sector EA) procedure which were to undertake aggressive transportation demand management measures.	4 (5, 8, 15, 21)	TDM measures are part of the overall OP/TMP philosophy and are included in all development and transportation studies.
j	The terms of reference should include alternatives to respond to the growth and all transportation needs of the hospitals and the city including: · do nothing · transportation demand management · light rail line · transitway/bus route · alternate routes · alternate methods of development, implementation and mitigation · park and rides · configuration of Alta Vista Drive · bicycle lanes, sidewalks and recreational paths	15 (5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 24)	The initiation of the EA is another logical step in the implementation of the 1997 Regional Official Plan which does establish the general parameters of growth and related transportation needs. All reasonable alternatives will be addressed in the study.
k	The terms of reference should look at downstream effects of a transportation facility in this corridor – cumulative effects.	12 (6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 18, 21, 22, 23)	As stated in the terms of reference, the EA will examine all cumulative effects.
l	Clarify the reporting relationship of the PAC and the public and how City Staff will communicate with PAC and the public.	5 (7, 10, 13, 14, 15)	The terms of reference will be revised to clarify the relationship between PAC, TAC, Study Team, and the public.
Comment/Suggestion		Number of times comment was mentioned (submission #)	Action
m	Change the PAC chair from the Study Team’s manager to someone elected by the PAC members.	1 (7)	It is appropriate for the Study’s Project Manager to be the Chair of PAC - this is the general practice with studies of this type.
n	Provide the PAC with a budget to undertake consultation exercises.	2 (7, 11)	All consultation exercises will be reviewed by the PAC. Providing PAC with funding for separate consultation exercises is unusual.
o	Allow the PAC to provide comments on the RFP prior to it being posted on MERX and the selection of the consultant.	1 (7)	This terms of reference will form the basis of the RFP. In effect, the public is already reviewed it.
p	Clarify that public transit will be studied as a stand alone alternative and not as a add-on option to a road system.	1 (7)	Public transit will be a stand alone option and the terms of reference will reflect that.
q	Include an expert without a vested interest in the project on the Technical Advisory Committee	1 (7)	All of the consultants that will be considered are experts without vested interest. Consultants serve the public through City Council.
r	Provide a full description of the facility including: · ramp locations · location of the northern terminus	4 (10, 11, 15, 16)	These detailed issues are to be dealt with in the EA. It is impossible to locate ramps with precision at this early stage.
s	Describe what a facility in this corridor needs to achieve.	5 (11, 14, 15, 18, 20)	The need has been identified in the Official Plan, TMP, and previous studies. The need will be revisited and documented in the EA.
t	The terms of reference should include the evaluation criteria used to evaluate and select the preferred alternative.	2 (11, 15)	The list of evaluation criteria will be developed during the EA process and will go through public consultation. Some study work have to be undertaken before appropriate and meaningful evaluation criteria can be established.
u	The terms of reference should have all of the existing information available to properly describe the existing conditions of the study area.	1 (11)	The collection of existing conditions data is a very fundamental part of the EA process.
v	The terms of reference should include the project schedule, timelines, how and when public input will be included.	2 (11, 18)	The Study Design that will be prepared will include these items.
w	The terms of reference should include a section that describes both the Federal and Provincial Environmental Assessment Processes.	4 (13, 14, 15, 18)	The terms of reference do mention these processes. The detailed descriptions will be in the EA document.
x	The Technical Advisory Committee specialties and studies that need to be carried out should be in the terms of reference. TAC should be made up of : · the department of Fisheries and Oceans should be a part of the TAC	2 (13, 15)	DFO has been added to the TAC.
Comment/Suggestion		Number of times comment was mentioned (submission #)	Action
y	The minutes of the various advisory committee meetings should be made available to all committees. Joint meeting should be scheduled to promote communication between committees.	2 (21, 22)	Minutes of all meetings will be made available to the various advisory committees.
z	The EA should remain neutral with respect to the twinning of the Airport Parkway.	2 (25, 26)	Since the twinning of the Airport Parkway is in the OP and it is part of the overall planned network identified in the TMP, it will need to be considered in the analysis of this facility.

Submission #s:

1	Riverview Park CA	14	Environmental Committee of Ottawa South
2	Alta Vista Drive Residents Association	15	South Keys / Greenboro CA
3	Riverview Park CA	16	Riverview Park CA
4	Faircrest Heights CA	17	Heron Park CA
5	Old Ottawa East CA	18	City Centre Coalition
6	Old Ottawa East CA	19	McNabb Neighbourhood Improvement Bunch
7	Old Ottawa South CA	20	Dalhousie CA
8	Resident	21	Resident
9	Old Ottawa East CA	22	Ottawa Cycling Committee
10	Action Sandy Hill	23	Citizens for Safe Cycling
11	Old Ottawa East CA	24	Alta Vista Drive Residents Association
12	Dow’s Lake Residents Association	25	Riverside Park Community & Rec. Assoc.
13	Councillor	26	Riverside Park Community & Rec. Assoc.