UPDATED FEBRUARY 2007
A short list of route alternatives has been
developed and was presented at the recently held Public Information
Centres. To view maps of the short list of routes undergoing a detailed
evaluation, please click
here, you will be directed to 407 site.
Highway 407 Report by Georg
Krohn.
I have been selected as one of Clarington’s representative
to the Community Advisory Group (CAG) to be part of the “407
East Individual Environmental Assessment Study”. There are
16 members from various areas of Durham Region, representing community
groups, environmental agencies, politicians, and representatives
from CLOCA. There are monthly meetings or Saturday workshops to
discuss the progress of the future 407 Highway development. Also
participating are the Municipal/Technical Advisory Group (MTAG)
and the Regulatory Advisory Group (RAG).
At the beginning of each meeting we receive a project status update.
Our input and general comments are welcome. At this present time
traffic hot points is a major topic being considered, traffic flow
at the AM peak hours and PM peak hours going west and east as well
as north in the Durham Region are being evaluated. Traffic patterns
are predicted to include housing growth until year 2031. This indicates
that Clarington will double its population by that time. According
to these statistics, roads, including the 407, have to be designed.
To stop the present rumours, there are no routes at all on the planning
boards. All previous routes have been removed and a completely new
study is being conducted. After the new Greenbelt Legislation, a
completely new study has been undertaken by engineers.
I will keep you in formed until Spring 2008 when we will probably
know where the final route will be for the traffic corridor.
Yours,
Georg Krohn
Historical Overview
Report
Historical
Overview and Exhibits (1.08 MB) Historical Overview Appendix
B - Oshawa/Clarington Link (PDF/3.94 MB)
Environmental Assessment Terms
of Reference
Draft
EA TOR - (PDF/359 KB)
Supporting Documentation - Available
Soon
The preparation of an Environmental
Assessment Terms of Reference (ToR) for the 407 East Completion,
and subsequent submission to the Minister of the Environment (MOE)
for review and approval, is a requirement of the Ontario Environmental
Assessment Act. If approved, the consultant team will undertake
an Individual Environmental Assessment Study.
The ToR is intended to provide guidance for the preparation of
the Individual Environmental Assessment Study. It also provides
assurance to stakeholders that the study will be prepared to an
acceptable level of detail.
A pre-submission review of the EA Terms of Reference is being conducted
prior to formal submission of the EA Terms of Reference to the
MOE for approval. The purpose of this review is to provide the
opportunity for interested stakeholders to identify any issues
or concerns with the EA terms of Reference prior to submission
to the MOE. The pre-submission review opportunity will extend to
July 2, 2004.
The Terms of Reference package that will be submitted to the Minister
of Environment will contain the EA Terms of Reference document
and supporting documentation.
For more information go to http://www.407eastea.com
Hwy. 407 expansion delayed
Construction could be put off until 2010 or later
DURHAM -
The elusive quest to get Hwy. 407 extended through Durham has hit
another roadblock - one that could
have implications for many Durham projects.
An Ontario court case over a landfill site near Napanee has changed
what types of environmental assessments the Province will accept.
That means the terms of reference (the study that must be done
before an EA) the Ministry of Transportation has completed for
the Hwy. 407 expansion needs changes and additions. And that will
add at least six months to an already lengthy process, said regional
Chairman Roger Anderson.
"
What was supposed to be under construction next year is now 2010
or longer," he said. "What this does is delay what
is vital to Durham."
The proposed extension would take Hwy. 407 from its current end
at Brock Road in Pickering to Hwy. 115/35 in Clarington.
Two freeway links to Hwy. 401 are being considered: one near Whitby/Ajax
and another within Oshawa.
Terms of reference outline what will occur in a full environmental
assessment (EA), and must be approved by the Ministry of the Environment.
Then an EA is done, approved, and construction begins.
In the case of Hwy. 407, the transportation ministry has completed
a "scoped" TOR. When scoping, usually a smaller area
is considered, using previous studies and scaled-down alternative
options are used, said David Ward, a spokesman for MTO.
"
But the decision says we're not allowed to hand in scoped environmental
assessments anymore for approval," Mr. Ward said. "That's
causing us to go back.
" We have to look at the larger study area and...alternatives that
were previously ruled out and rejig it and resubmit it."
The Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte plus two other individuals objected
to the expansion of the Richmond landfill site, owned by Canada
Waste Services. Canada Waste had submitted a scoped TOR, and is
currently appealing the decision.
Changing the way TORs are done could have implications for future
Durham projects like the Stevenson Road interchange off Hwy. 401,
the Pickering Airport and the Seaton lands in Pickering.
Mr. Ward said the MTO is hoping to hand in the updated TOR by late
summer, adding almost a year to the original estimate of fall 2003.
The regional chairman has asked the municipalities - who must submit
comments on the TOR - to get back to the Province as soon as possible,
even if it means holding a special meeting.
"
We can keep putting...decisions off, but then we'd be the government
of Ontario," Mr. Anderson said.
For more information, contact www.407eastea.com
Jan 30, 2004 - Carly Foster,
Staff Writer - Clarington This Week
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