Southwest Agincourt Transportation Connections Study

The study area is bounded by Cardwell Avenue to the north, the Stouffville GO train line to the east, Village Green Square to the south and Kennedy Road to the west. Several infrastructure improvements are being recommended within the study area.

The transportation improvements being recommended through this study include:

• A new north-south ‘complete street’ that would provide space for people walking, cycling and driving. The new street would follow alignment C-1 and connect Village Green Square, Cowdray Court and Sheppard Avenue East
• A new north-south multi-use trail that would follow alignment D-1 and connect Village Green Square, Collingwood Park and Sheppard Avenue East
• New sidewalks on Collingwood Street and Dowry Street to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility
• New cycling connections along Sheppard Avenue East, Reidmount Avenue and Dowry Street that would connect people cycling between the new ‘complete street’ and the Agincourt GO station
• Intersection safety improvements at Sheppard Avenue East and Agincourt GO Station driveway

Recommended Design Options

Design options for the new north-south ‘complete street’ have been evaluated. On Gordon Avenue, the recommended design includes:

• 1 motor vehicle lane in each direction
• 6 m wide buffered bike lanes in each direction
• Standard boulevard planting (sod and trees) in current location; retention of mature trees where possible
• Relocation of utility poles to allow room for 2.1 m wide sidewalks on both sides of Gordon Avenue

 On the new section of the ‘complete street’ south of Collingwood Street, the recommended design includes:

• 1 motor vehicle lane in each direction
• 1 m raised cycle track with a physical buffer
• Green gutters in cycle track buffer and green infrastructure integrated into planting areas
• New utilities underground with new street lights
• 1 m wide sidewalks on both sides of the street

Study Background

The lands between Highway 401 to the south, Kennedy Road to the west, Sheppard Avenue East to the north, and the Stouffville Metrolinx GO rail corridor to the east are experiencing significant development growth. The number of people living and working in this area will grow as a result of planned and anticipated developments.

As the number of people using the transportation network increases, improvements will be needed to ensure that people can travel through the area and reach key destinations efficiently and safely. Without alternative routes, particularly to and from the Agincourt GO Station, increased traffic from anticipated developments will lead to greater congestion. The need for a new north-south street connecting Sheppard Avenue East with the streets east of Kennedy Road is identified in the City’s Official Plan and the Council-approved Agincourt Secondary Plan.

Key objectives of the study:

• provide high-quality transportation infrastructure that addresses the needs of this growing area.
• improve street network connectivity to local destinations, including Agincourt GO Station, Collingwood Park and local schools.
• improve safety for people walking, cycling, taking transit and driving
• mitigate traffic congestion along Kennedy Road and Sheppard Avenue East.

Challenges

Constructed and natural barriers in the area present a number of challenges. The transportation network is constrained by the Canadian Pacific Railway, the Stouffville Metrolinx GO rail corridor and West Highland Creek, resulting in a disconnected local street network that limits the movement of people in the area.

Currently, people travelling to and from Cowdray Court and Village Green Square must use Kennedy Road. Given that congestion on Kennedy Road is an existing concern, as is the safety of people walking and cycling, this study aims to address existing and future needs for all modes of transportation.

Environmental Assessment Process

The Southwest Agincourt Transportation Connections study is being carried out under Schedule ‘C’ of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA), which is an approved planning process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act.

Under this process, the study will:

• define the problem(s) that are to be addressed
• develop and evaluate potential solutions
• review public and stakeholder feedback
• recommend a preferred solution
• identify measures to minimize any impacts resulting from the preferred solution

Each potential transportation improvement (solution) will be assessed based on its anticipated impacts on the natural environment, traffic circulation, residents and property owners in the study focus area and the surrounding area, upfront and long-term costs.

An Environmental Study Report (ESR) will be prepared and made publicly available at the end of the study process in accordance with the requirements of the Municipal Class EA. Members of the public will have a 30 day period to comment on the ESR.

The study was initiated in June 2020 and is anticipated to be completed by early 2023.

Public Consultation: What We Heard

In September 2020 the City of Toronto consulted the public on the potential transportation improvements being considered through this study. While some local residents are supportive of a new street and new multi-use trail connecting Village Green Square with Sheppard Avenue East, many residents have significant concerns about the potential impacts of these projects.

The Consultation Summary report provides a full summary of the feedback received from the public and key stakeholders through the first round of consultation. This feedback is being considered by the project team as part of the detailed evaluation of each transportation improvement option.

Following the second round of consultation, an Environmental Study Report with the final recommended improvements will be prepared, and the study recommendations will be presented to City Council for consideration.

Virtual Public Event #1

The first Virtual Public Event was held on September 23, 2020, to introduce the study, present the transportation improvement options that are being considered, and respond to questions from the public.

Notice of Public Consultation September 2020 (English)

Notice of Public Consultation September 2020 (Simplified Chinese)

If you were not able to attend, you can view the information panels that were presented at the meeting and review the Question & Answer Summary.  The information panels are also available in Simplified Chinese.

Evaluation Process

The study will consider a number of factors to determine the location and alignment of the new north-south street:

• impacts on the natural environment
• Impacts on residents and property owners in the focus area and the surrounding area.
• Impacts on traffic circulation for all modes of transportation, including but not limited to congestion, travel time savings and safety
• technical feasibility/constructability.
• capital (upfront) and lifecycle (long-term) costs

Information used in the evaluation will be collected through existing reports, field studies, input from technical advisors and subject matter experts, and through public consultation.

Study Outcomes

The study will make recommendations for transportation improvements that will be presented to City Council for consideration. The final recommendation of this study could be a combination of improvements (e.g. a new north-south street, a new, separate multi-use trail, as well as improvements to the existing road network improvements) or a single improvement (i.e. just a multi-use trail). As a result, it is necessary to study the impacts of all potential improvements, both individually and collectively.

Property Impacts

Some of the potential improvement options that are being proposed would involve impacts to residential and commercial properties. In some cases, the potential impact is to the City-owned right of way in front of a property, where in other cases, there is the potential for impact to private property.

The owners of properties that are potentially impacted by the improvement options have been notified directly by the City of Toronto. These property owners will be notified again, following the completion of the detailed evaluation.

Private property impacts will be considered as part of the detailed evaluation criteria used to determine the recommended improvements.

New Developments

The purpose of this study is to evaluate ways to expand the future transportation network as identified in the Agincourt Secondary Plan. The secondary plan allows for growth which will increase the number of people using the existing and planned street network. It is not within the scope of this transportation study to evaluate the planned growth within the Agincourt Secondary Plan. Any comments or questions regarding growth in the Secondary Plan area will be received and addressed by City Planning at a later time.

Agincourt Mall Redevelopment

The Agincourt Mall site falls within the secondary study boundary, and the proposed redevelopment of the mall will be considered as part of the broader impact analysis (e.g. impacts of the potential transportation improvements on traffic and the natural environment). Additional traffic that could be generated by the Agincourt Mall redevelopment will be considered as part of traffic modelling that is used to evaluate potential transportation improvement options.

Alternative Street Connections

The Agincourt Secondary Plan is the City’s guiding policy for growth and infrastructure development in the study area. An earlier version of the Secondary Plan identified a conceptual street network that included an east-west street connection from Midland Avenue to the employment lands formerly occupied by the Toronto Truck Sufferance Terminal. The Secondary Plan was amended in 2007 as part of an Ontario Municipal Board (OMB) decision that approved a residential subdivision for what is now Village Green Square. As a result, the current Secondary Plan does not identify a new street connection to Midland Avenue.