www.insidehalton.com | OAKVILLE BEAVER | Thursday, November 30, 2017 | 18 Notice of Commencement and Public Meeting #2 Burloak Drive Grade Separation Transit Project Assessment Process To keep up with our growing region, Metrolinx, an agency of the Province of Ontario, is transforming the way the region moves by delivering the largest transit infrastructure program in Canadian history to keep the region moving today and tomorrow. The Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area (GTHA) is now home to nearly 7 million people and heading towards 9 million by 2041. To address the urgent transit needs of the GTHA, the Province of Ontario committed to implement more GO service and make other infrastructure improvements to the GO system to help create new transit connections and faster service across the region. By 2025, electric trains will be running every 15 minutes, all day and in both directions, within the most heavily travelled section of the GO network. The Project Metrolinx, in partnership with the City of Burlington and Town of Oakville, is completing a Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) under Ontario Regulation 231/08 made under the Environmental Assessment Act, to implement a grade separation at Burloak Drive / Lakeshore West Corridor located in the City of Burlington and Town of Oakville, within Halton Region. This Project is part of the Metrolinx Regional Express Rail Program which will enhance safety, on time performance and operational flexibility/reliability in support of expanded rail service, and allows for road transportation improvements for the local municipalities. The Project includes: · A new road-under-rail grade separation that provides: A rail corridor that continues to include three (3) mainline tracks; An arterial road (Burloak Drive) that can ultimately provide up to six (6) traffic lanes; Minor intersection enhancements at Harvester Road/Wyecroft Road and Superior Court/Prince William Drive; Dedicated multi-use paths along the boulevards and on-street bicycle lanes; Retaining walls; and Future electrification provisions for Overhead Catenary System (OCS) pole bases and other electrification requirements, including grounding and bonding. · Construction staging that provides: Temporary re-routing of a section of Burloak Drive to the east; Temporary diversion of a section of the Lakeshore West Rail Corridor tracks to the south; · Relocation of the existing Burloak Interlocking Plant (switches between tracks) that is located just west of Burloak Drive; and, · Utility relocations to accommodate the design and construction staging of the proposed road-under-rail underpass. The Process The TPAP is a proponent-driven, self-assessment process that provides a defined framework to follow in order to complete the accelerated assessment of the potential environmental effects and decision-making within a 120-day regulated assessment timeline. Following this period, the regulation provides an additional 30-day public and agency review, and a further 35-day Ministry of the Environment of Climate Change (MOECC) review. Prior to the commencement of the TPAP, introductory pre-planning activities take place. These activities include the study of existing environmental conditions and potential environmental effects of the Project across the natural environment, socio-economic environment, cultural environment, and traffic and transportation, as well as public and stakeholder consultation. As part of the TPAP, an Environmental Project Report (EPR) is being prepared. Your Opportunity to Have Your Say We thank everyone for their feedback to date. As we begin the TPAP on November 23, 2017 and build on the first public meeting held in March 2017, we invite you to attend the public meeting on December 13, 2017. At this meeting, Metrolinx will present the findings of the EPR and the proposed Burloak Drive Grade Separation Project. Members of the public, government agencies, Indigenous communities and other interested parties are encouraged to participate in the TPAP by attending the public meeting or visiting metrolinx.com/burloak. Date: Time: Location: Wednesday, December 13, 2017 6:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m. Robert Bateman High School 5151 New Street Burlington, ON L7L 1V3 Shop for Kids' Sake online auction Dec. 4 Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Halton presents its Shop for Kids' Sake online auction in support of mentoring programs for children and youths -- just in time for the holidays. Now in its 14th year, bidding on more than 200 items starts Monday, Dec. 4, at 9 a.m. and runs until Sunday, Dec. 10, at 9 p.m. This year's auction features a wide variety of gift ideas, including Toronto Maple Leafs and Toronto Raptors tickets, golf foursomes, restaurant gift cards, home décor, jewelry, gift baskets, children's toys, books, electronics and more. "You're going to be holiday shopping anyway, so why not support a great cause at the same time? Spend a little for something big," said BBBS of Halton executive director Sandra Baker, in a press release. "Hundreds of children in our community benefit from the support of our mentorship programs. Fundraisers like Shop for Kids' Sake have a significant role in ensuring the potential of these programs is maximized," Baker added. BBBS of Halton has been serving the Halton Hills, Milton and Oakville communities for 50 years and is considered a national leader in children's mentorship programming. BBBS offers a wide range of mentoring opportunities to meet the varied needs of volunteers, children and families. Serving as role models, our mentors teach by example the importance of giving and giving back, staying in school and having respect for family, peers and community. For more information about BBBS of Halton or to view auction items and place bids starting Monday, Dec. 4, visit www.bbbshalton.ca. *Location is accessible. Comments Invited If you have any Project-related questions, would like to be added to the Project mailing list or would like to provide input at any time, please contact: Metrolinx c/o Burloak Grade Separation Project 20 Bay Street, Suite 600, Toronto, ON M5J 2W3 e-mail: Burloak@metrolinx.com website: metrolinx.com/burloak All personal information included in a submission such as name, address, telephone number and property location is collected, maintained and disclosed by the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change for the purpose of transparency and consultation. The information is collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act and is collected and maintained for the purpose of creating a record that is available to the general public as described in s. 37 of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. Personal information you submit will become part of a public record that is available to the general public unless you request that your personal information remain confidential. For more information, please contact Metrolinx (contact information above) or the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change Freedom of Information and Privacy Coordinator at 416-327-1434. WE GET RESULTS... PERIOD! DiamonD awarD For Best in Fitness Bootcamp-nutrition-Yoga Metrolinx is working to provide residents and businesses in the GTHA with a transportation system that is modern, efficient and integrated. Find out more about Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan for the GTHA, as well as GO Transit, PRESTO and Union Pearson Express at metrolinx.com. This Notice first published on November 23, 2017. Pour plus de renseignements, veuillez composer le 416 869-3200 ou le 1 888 GET-ON-GO (438-6646). Oakville Beaver readerschoice.oakvillebeaver.com