W-LRT environmental assessment look-ahead

I've fielded a few questions now about where the environmental assessment (EA) for the western light rail route stands. While Council has approved the route, it's still subject to Provincial approval through the EA.

I posed the question to staff about where that stands, and wanted to share the reply below.

The environmental assessment process for transit projects is complex. The best resource is a guide published by the province of Ontario:

Ontario’s Transit Project Assessment Process, January 2014 It is on the web at:

https://dr6j45jk9xcmk.cloudfront.net/documents/1799/3-8a-6-ea-transit-projects-en-pdf.pdf

The City also refers to this guide. It describes the terms and key steps in the process, types of notification and who is to be consulted and how. For us to try and relay how this complex process works is challenging, and it would be better that those interested in understanding the TPAP process consult the guide directly. We can then discuss specific aspects of the process with you as we move forward.

That said, we can layout the some of the milestones and timing that the City will follow.

The Notice of Commencement – We are planning to issues the Notice of Commencement before the end of 2015. The Notice of Commencement is sent to all interested persons including regulatory agencies Aboriginal communities, adjacent landowners, and interested persons (including representatives from the Unitarian Campus). The project team would be available to consult on/discuss specific issues with interested persons.

Prepare Environmental Project Report – The Notice of Commencement starts the 120-day period where the documentation of the transit project assessment process is undertaken and a document known as an Environmental Project Report (EPR) is prepared. Since this is such a large and complex project, we are drawing upon the extensive work already created for the public open houses, reports to committee, the 100-day Working Group, and consultation events and meetings.

Consult on Preferred Project – This will occur between the end of 2015 and early 2016. The draft EPR is a work in progress and is adjusted, as necessary, bajsed on input received during the 120-day period through discussions with those agencies, groups and individuals noted above. The project team is available to consult on/discuss specific issues during this time.

Notice of Completion – This is issued when the final EPR document has been completed and is formally available to the public, agencies, adjacent landowners and interested persons for a 30-day review period. The document is distributed to the agencies and is placed in a number of locations where it can be accessed and reviewed by the public. We plan to issue this notice in early spring 2016.

Our objective is to complete the entire process by late spring 2016.