The Arterial Roads Review Ad hoc Steering Committee (ARRASC) met on December 10, 2009, at 8:04 a.m. in the Council Chamber, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton.

Chaired by Councillor R. Paterak

1. DECLARATIONS OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST - Nil


2. APPROVAL OF AGENDA

RECOMMENDATION ARRASC-2-2009:

That the agenda for the December 10, 2009 Arterial Roads Review Ad hoc Steering Committee meeting be approved.

Reports – Item 4a was dealt with.

4. REPORTS

a) Arterial Road Rationalization Review Phase II Methodology Update, Capital Project 08-4325 - All Wards

RECOMMENDATION ARRASC-3-2009

That the methodology presented as set out in the report of the Commissioner of Public Works, dated November 24, 2009, titled “Arterial Road Rationalization Review Phase II, Methodology Update, Capital Project 08-4325 – All Wards”, be endorsed;

And further, that the request from the County of Dufferin to download Regional Road 23 (Caledon East-Garafraxa Townline) to the Town of Caledon, be included as part of the Arterial Road Rationalization Review Phase II Project.

See also Delegations/Presentations – Item 3a

Damian Albanese, Director, Transportation, provided an update of the recent activities of staff that led up to the methodology for the second phase of the Arterial Road Rationalization Review. He advised that staff received the request of the County of Dufferin to download Regional Road 23 to the Town of Caledon and indicated that it will be included in the evaluation process.

Regional Chair E. Kolb arrived at 8:08 a.m.

Councillor Paterak inquired what information has been provided to the County of Dufferin regarding their request to download Regional Road 23 to the Town of Caledon. Damian Albanese responded that Trevor Lewis, Director of Public Works, County of Dufferin, was informed that Regional Council referred the request to staff and that Regional Road 23 will be considered as part of Phase II of the Arterial Roads Rationalization Review process. He further stated that the Mr. Lewis was notified that the study will take approximately 12 months to complete.

Councillor Paterak stated that traffic on Regional Road 23 has increased dramatically since Orangeville opened its Western Commercial Neighbourhood near the Orangeville By-pass. The road has become the entrance way to the commercial node that resulted in a significant increase in traffic through Peel. Councillor Paterak requested that staff consider the traffic congestion in its entirety, in the area, during the review process. Damian Albanese stated that staff will review the roads systems in its entirety.

3. DELEGATIONS/PRESENTATIONS

a) Peter Hillier, Senior Project Manager, Transportation Division, Delcan Corporation, Presenting the Methodology for the Arterial Road Rationalization Review Phase II

Received

See also Reports – Item 4a

Councillor M. Morrison arrived at 8:15 a.m.

Peter Hillier, Senior Project Manager, Transportation Division, Delcan Corporation, provided an overview of the methodology for Phase II of the Arterial Roads Rationalization Review process. He stated that the methodology is for the collection and structuring of data for an evaluation matrix. Staff will focus on the identification of critical issues which will be used to evaluate the nine options.

In order to process the information and expedite the decision making, Peter Hillier recommended that a mini-workshop consisting of Members of the Arterial Roads Review Ad hoc Steering Committee (ARRASC) and the Staff Working Group be held to assess the data in the completed Criteria Summary Matrix in early April 2010. He indicated that the final report and documentation is projected to be finished by July 2010 and will be presented to the Committee for review and approval by September 2010.

Councillor P. Saito arrived at 8:26 a.m.

Regional Chair Kolb stated that the Minister of Finance recently released three reports on population growth in the Greater Toronto Area and that the population in Peel is expected to increase by 434,000 people more than the projected numbers in the growth plan. Regional Chair Kolb expressed concern that it will greatly impact the process for the Arterial Roads Rationalization Review in the Region of Peel. Regional Chair Kolb requested that the Committee consider and review the Minister’s report and consider how it will impact the arterial roads rationalization review process.

Councillor Saito cautioned against including the Minister’s report in the context of the Arterial Roads Rationalization Review process and questioned how it will impact the final recommendation of the study. She stated that it is expected that the consultants and staff would utilize the most current numbers and population projections in the study, also taking into consideration the alternative forms of transportation, lanes or routes for buses and high occupancy vehicles.

Councillor Saito stated that the scope of the project is to review transportation policy, the rationalization that will manage the roads and determining the nature of the arterial roadways that run through the Region of Peel.

Councillor Saito advised that the process could be delayed if the Committee undertakes additional responsibilities outside of the scope of the ARRASC Terms of Reference. Councillor Saito requested staff to be conscientious of the schedule and to report back to the Committee in a timely manner.

Councillor Thompson noted the substantial growth outside of Peel and how it greatly impacts the traffic going through the Region. He indicated that there is a need to address the increasing population outside of Peel to substantiate the consultant’s report.

Damian Albanese stated that the functionality of major arterial roads takes into account the traffic needs, growth and traffic demand. He informed that Phase 1 of the Arterial Roads Rationalization Review identified which corridors met the criteria, the Average Annual Daily Traffic (AADT) which is a reflection of population and demand, and the interregional implications.

Peter Hillier stated that the scope of the study is to review the expected land development on the major arterial road network. Further, he advised that the scope of the study is to assess the current events with respect to the use of development charge revenue from 2008 to 2010. The study was not intended to look at what potential revenue could be gained from land development in the future.

Councillor Paterak indicated that Regional Chair Kolb made a legitimate point and noted the flaw in the study is that the Region is asymmetrical. The City of Mississauga has reached its full potential in terms of using the 400-series highways. The City of Brampton utilizes the 400-series to the north and south of it. The Town of Caledon is in its early stage of the building process with respect to the 400-series highways. He indicated that interregional traffic works well in Mississauga, however, that does not mean it will work in the Town of Caledon. He requested that staff consider that matter as part of the study and also questioned the associated cost with the improvement.

Councillor Paterak inquired if staff will provide the Committee an evaluation of all of the roads and their functions for the nine options in the study. Peter Hillier responded that staff will not be able to evaluate on a road by road basis. He informed the Committee that the first two options in the study will be for a complete uploading or downloading.

Councillor Saito indicated that an inventory and a brief review of the roads in the study is critical information to have in the final report to assist the Committee to make appropriate decisions. She requested that the consultant and staff prepare a map and a chart showing all of the arterial roads in the study and to include brief descriptions of each road.

Damian Albanese advised that the identified options in the Phase 1 study reflect the inventory of roads with the associated arterial road options. The maps and listing of roads in each option can be provided to the Committee by January 2010 and staff will be able to assist the ARRASC members should they require further information. He also stated that the information requested by Councillor Saito will also be referenced at the mini-workshop proposed by the consultant in early April 2010.

Councillor Paterak requested staff to provide a detailed map of the Region in large format illustrating all of the Regional Roads in terms of the number of lanes by means of line thickness.

Councillor Morrison stated that the Region of Peel should have a very strong position on the functionality of the Regional Roads. She indicated that the Region, as an upper-tier municipality, has the ability to grant limited access onto major arterial roads within its jurisdiction to help with uninterrupted flow of traffic. Councillor Morrison indicated that granting limited access should be included in the long-term planning of the Region, citing the conversion of Mayfield Road into a six-lane arterial road as an example.

Regional Chair Kolb requested that staff review and provide an analysis of the report by the Minister of Finance and consider the effects it may have to the Transportation Master Plan and the potential impacts it may have to the arterial road review study.

Councillor Paterak requested that staff provide the link to the reports of the Minister of Finance to all members of ARRASC for review.

4. REPORTS

a) Arterial Road Rationalization Review Phase II Methodology Update, Capital Project 08-4325 - All Wards

This item was dealt with earlier in the meeting

5. COMMUNICATIONS - Nil


6. OTHER BUSINESS - Nil


7. NEXT MEETING

The next meeting of the Arterial Roads Review Ad hoc Steering Committee is scheduled for Thursday, February 18, 2010, 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. Council Chamber, 5th floor, Regional Administrative Headquarters, 10 Peel Centre Drive, Suite A, Brampton, Ontario.

Please forward regrets to Stephanie Jurrius, Legislative Specialist, (905) 791-7800, ext. 4502 or at stephanie.jurrius@peelregion.ca.

8. ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 8:57 a.m.