MUNICIPAL CLASS ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT: PROPOSED MAJOR AMENDMENT TO INCLUDE TRANSIT PROJECTS

ÉVALUATION ENVIRONNEMENTALE MUNICIPALE DE PORTÉE GÉNÉRALE : IMPORTANT PROJET DE MODIFICATION VISANT À INCLURE LES PROJETS DE TRANSPORT EN COMMUN

ACS2007-PTE-POL-0028

David Jeanes, Transport 2000 spoke in support of the staff report and recommendation, suggesting that including transit projects in the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) would put them on an equal playing field with municipal road projects. However, he expressed concern with the fact that the Municipal Class EA excluded heavy rail projects. He noted that the definition of heavy rail was not in the report, and wanted to ensure that it did not exclude Diesel Light Rail Transit (DLRT) such as an extension to the existing O-Train. He emphasized the various advantages to having DLRT as one of the available transit technologies in this type of EA.

At the request of Chair Cullen, Vivi Chi, Manger of Transportation and Infrastructure Planning gave the following information in response to Mr. Jeanes’ concerns:

· The Ministry of the Environment is emphatically opposed to the inclusion of heavy rail, such as subways, in the Municipal Class EA.

· The report outlines that expansions or add-ons to an existing linear facility would be included.

· She noted that the City already has the right of way for a possible extension of the O-Train to Leitrim, and the above proviso applies to new extensions that are in a new right of way that have not been defined.

· She suggested that the extension of the existing O-Train could be considered part of this Municipal Class EA process, and undertook to get confirmation on that from the Ministry of the Environment.

· She confirmed that a light rapid transit system involving rail would fall under this class of EA, as would a possible downtown tunnel for light rail.

Cheryl Doran spoke in opposition to the staff report and recommendation. She expressed concern that a general, multipurpose EA does not anticipate nor address unique environmental issues. She noted that there is no consideration of the concept of eco-passages listed in the Municipal Class EA. She also expressed concern that the Municipal Class EA process would not provide for adequate public consultation, nor would it provide adequate consideration of the ecological concerns. She mentioned the Lester and Albion Road widening project as an example of such a process, and suggested that concerns regarding turtle habitat in the area were left unaddressed during that process. She felt that the City’s past difficulties in getting EAs approved were not due to other levels of government, but rather due to the City’s own staff and consultants. She urged the Committee not to approve the report recommendation until things such as eco-passages are created for wildlife and aquatic species.

In response to questions from Councillor Cullen, Ms. Chi confirmed that the environmental issues put forward by the delegation should be covered as part of the Municipal Class EA process, as they would be with an individual EA. She also confirmed that there is a pubic consultation component to the Municipal Class EA process, and that the public would be able to participate in the process and bring forward issues such as those outlined by the delegation.

Edelweiss D’Andrea also spoke in opposition to the staff report and recommendation. She noted that EAs are intended to assess the impact of a given project on the environment, and suggested that they are ineffective unless they are done on a case-by-case basis. She then outlined her concerns with respect to the EA for the extension of the O-Train. She advised that specifically, it does not mention species at risk, as the Blandings Turtle was not on the threatened species list at the time the EA was approved. She noted that these turtles, whose habitat is along the proposed rail route, are now identified as species at risk. In light of this status change, she suggested that the City of Ottawa should not consider Municipal Class EAs and re-do an EA before proceeding with the extension of the O-Train. She also noted the Ontario Ministry of the Environment requires that proponents develop a plan detailing how mitigation measures such as alternative corridors will be carried out to protect all species at risk.

In response to questions from Councillor Cullen, Ms. Chi confirmed that when the public brings information on a species at risk during the EA process, the process is meant to address mitigation issues such as those put forward by the delegation. She noted that the whole Environmental Assessment Act is intended to be a planning tool. She advised that staff methodically address unexpected issues, as they have to report back on public feedback and how those issues are addressed as part of the documentation for the entire project.

She also confirmed that when the City starts an EA, those processes are publicized and there is the opportunity for the public to stay informed through various means.

That Transit Committee recommend Council endorse the proposal by the Municipal Engineers Association to include transit projects in the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process.

CARRIED