[All] Fw: Notice of Completion of Environmental Project Report - Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Project

[Louisette Lanteigne]

----- Forwarded Message -----
From: RTInfo <rtinfo at region.waterloo.on.ca>
To: butterflybluelu at rogers.com 
Sent: Friday, March 16, 2012 3:00:17 PM
Subject: Notice of Completion of Environmental Project Report - Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Project
 
Notice of Completion of Environmental Project Report
Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Project

The Project

The Regional Municipality of Waterloo (Region) has completed an Environmental Project Report (EPR) in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08 for the Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Project. The Region is proposing a rapid transit system that connects the Region’s three major urban centres of the Cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo.  This project is part of a strategic framework to enhance transit service in high-demand transportation corridors and to guide and manage long-term growth within the Region, as set out in the Regional Growth Management Strategy (2003) and the Regional Transportation Master Plan (2011).

Stage 1 of the rapid transit system consists of both light rail transit (LRT) and adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT) operating along the rapid transit corridor.  LRT will operate between Conestoga Mall in the City of Waterloo and Fairview Park Mall in the City of Kitchener (19 km), and aBRT will operate between Fairview Park Mall and the Ainslie Street Terminal in the City of Cambridge (17 km).  There will be a total of 22 stations along the 36 km corridor. A map of the rapid transit system can be viewed on the rapid transit website: http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/maps.html

The Process
    
The environmental impact of this transit project was assessed and an EPR was prepared in accordance with the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) as prescribed in Ontario Regulation 231/08, Transit Projects and Metrolinx Undertakings (Transit Projects Regulation). 

The EPR for the Region of Waterloo Rapid Transit Project is now available for a 30-day review period starting March 16, 2012 to April 16, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. at the following locations, including the rapid transit project website: http://rapidtransit.region.waterloo.on.ca/news/notice-of-completion-of-environmental-project-report.html

Ministry of the Environment
Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A
Toronto, ON, M4V 1L5
1-800-461-6290, Mon. – Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 5 p.m.    

Ministry of the Environment 
Guelph District Office, 4th Floor
1 Stone Road West
Guelph, ON, N1G 4Y2
1-800-265-8658, Mon. – Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.  

Region of Waterloo
Office of the Regional Clerk
150 Frederick Street 
Kitchener, ON, N2G 4J3
519-575-4420, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.    

City of Cambridge
Office of the City Clerk, 2nd Floor
50 Dickson Street,
Cambridge, ON N1R 8S1
519-740-4680, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 am.- 4:30 p.m.

City of Kitchener
Office of the City Clerk
200 King Street West
Kitchener, ON, N2G 4G7 
519-741-2203, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.    

City of Waterloo
Office of the City Clerk, 1st Floor
100 Regina Street South
Waterloo, ON, N2J 4A8
519-747-8705, Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.- 4:30 p.m.

Queen’s Square Library
Information Desk
1 North Square
Cambridge, ON, N1S 2K6
519-621-2080, Mon. – Thurs. 9:30 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Fri.- Sat. 9:30 a.m. - 5:30 p.m. 
Sun. 1 - 5 p.m. (Sept.- May)    

Kitchener Public Library, Main Branch
Information Desk
85 Queen Street North
Kitchener, ON, N2H 2H1
519-743-0271, Mon. – Thurs. 9:30 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri. 9:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Sun. 1 - 5 p.m. (Jan.8 - May 13)

Waterloo Public Library
Information Desk
35 Albert Street
Waterloo, ON, N2L 5E2
519-886-1310 ext. 110. 
Mon. – Thurs. 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.
Fri. - Sat. 10 a.m. – 5: 30 p.m.
Sun. 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. (Oct. 16 – May 6)     

Interested persons are encouraged to review this document and provide comments no later than April 16, 2012 at 11:59 p.m. For further information on the proposed rapid transit project and to submit comments and concerns regarding the EPR, please contact:

Darshpreet Singh Bhatti, P.Eng., Manager, Rapid Transit Engineering 
Region of Waterloo, Rapid Transit, 150 Frederick Street, Kitchener, ON, N2G 4J3
Phone: 519-575-4757, ext. 3691, rtinfo at regionofwaterloo.ca

There are circumstances where the Minister of the Environment has the authority to require further consideration of the transit project, or impose conditions on it.  These include if the Minister is of the opinion that:
• The transit project may have a negative impact on a matter of provincial importance that relates to the natural environment or has cultural heritage value or interest; or,
• The transit project may have a negative impact on a constitutionally protected Aboriginal or treaty right.

Before exercising the authority referred to above, the Minister is required to consider any written objections to the transit project that he or she may receive within 30 days after the Notice of Completion of EPR is first published.

If you have discussed your concerns with the Region but feel they are unresolved, you can provide a written objection to the Minister of the Environment (with a copy to the Region) no later than April 16, 2012 at 11:59 a.m. to the address provided below.  All submissions must clearly indicate that an objection is being submitted and describe any negative impacts to matters of provincial importance (natural or cultural environment) or Aboriginal rights. A copy of the objection will be forwarded to the Region by the Ministry if it was not already provided.

Environmental Assessment and Approvals Branch
Ministry of the Environment
2 St. Clair Avenue West, Floor 12A
Toronto ON M4V 1L5
Attention: Alex Blasko, Special Project Officer 
Phone:  416-314-8001; Toll free:  1-800-461-6290
Fax:  416-314-8452
E-mail:  eaabgen.moe at ontario.ca

This project follows Ontario’s Transit Project Assessment Process. All comments and information received from individuals, stakeholder groups and agencies regarding this project are being collected under the Environmental Assessment Act and the Municipal Act to assist the Region of Waterloo in making decisions on this project. Questions may be directed to the Region’s Manager, Rapid Transit Engineering, listed above.

Under the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act and the Environmental Assessment Act, unless otherwise stated in the submission, any personal information such as name, address, telephone number and property location included in a submission to the Ministry of the Environment will become part of the public record files for this matter and will be released, if requested, to any person. Questions may be directed to the Ministry’s Special Project Officer, listed above.

This notice was first issued on March 16, 2012.
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