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Notice of Completion - York Boulevard Commuter Cycling Class Environmental Assessment

April 13, 2006

The City of Hamilton has completed the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process to identify a strategy to provide a commuter cycling facility on the York Boulevard corridor from Dundurn Street to the Hamilton-Burlington boundary.

The purpose of this Class EA is: (1) to improve the level of safety for commuter cyclists using the York Boulevard corridor, (2) to promote the use of cycling as a sustainable alternative means of travel, and (3) to preserve sufficient vehicle capacity to avoid significant negative impact on the level of service for motor vehicles.

Based on an evaluation, the preferred strategy is On-Road Bike Lane facilities with a reduction of travel lanes as it offers the most advantages.

This project follows the planning and design process of Schedule “B” projects as defined in the Municipal Engineers Association Municipal Class Environmental Assessment document (June 2000). A Public Information Centre was held to present this project on December 8, 2005. All comments received have been addressed in the Project File Report.

Public Review Period

A Class EA Project File Report documenting the planning process undertaken and conclusions reached will be placed on the public record. The City is required to file the Project File Report on the public record for a minimum 30 day review period in accordance with the Municipal Class EA. Due to the Easter Holiday a 32-day “Review Period” will begin on Thursday, April 13, 2006 and end on Monday, May 15, 2006 .

The report is available at the following locations:

Hamilton Centre Library
55 York Blvd.
P.O. Box 2700
Hamilton , ON L8N 4E4
905 546-3200

Office of the City Clerk
71 Main Street West
City Hall, 2nd Floor
Hamilton , ON L8P 4Y5
905 546-CITY

City Centre
Public Works Department
77 James Street North, Suite 320
Hamilton , ON L8R 2K3
905 546-CITY

Subject to comments received as a result of this notice, the City of Hamilton intends to proceed with the implementation of the recommendations included in the Project File Report. If after reading the Project File Report, you have questions or concerns, please follow this procedure:

1. Contact the following City staff to discuss your questions or concerns:
   Mary Lou Tanner, MCIP, RPP , Manager, Strategic and Environmental Planning
   Capital Planning and Implementation , Public Works Department , City of Hamilton
   PH 905 546-2424, x. 5101 FAX 905 546-4435 e-mail: mtanner@hamilton.ca
   
   
2. Arrange a meeting with the above if you have significant concerns that may require more detailed explanation.
   
   
3. If you raise major concerns, the City will attempt to negotiate a resolution of the issues. A mutually acceptable time period for this negotiation will be set. If the issues remain unresolved, you may request the Minister of the Environment, by order, to require the City to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act before proceeding with this Schedule “B” project. This is called a Part II Order (“bump up”).

The Minister may make one of the following decisions:

• Deny the request
• Refer the matter to mediation
• Require the City to comply with Part II of the Environmental Assessment Act by undertaking one of the following:
• Submitting the Project File Report for government review and approval; or,
• Completing an individual Environmental Assessment for government review and approval; or,
• Preparing Terms of Reference governing the preparation of an individual Environmental Assessment.

Requests must be submitted in writing to the Minister of the Environment within the 32-day review period:

Minister of the Environment
135 St. Clair Avenue West
12th Floor, Toronto , Ontario M4V 1P5

A copy of the letter should be sent to the City of Hamilton, to the attention of Mary Lou Tanner (address above).

Information will be collected in accordance with the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. With the exception of personal information, all comments will become part of the public record.

More information, including the Project File Report can be found at www.hamilton.ca/york-boulevard-cycle.