Oakville Council recognizes ‘balanced approach’ needed to Lakeshore Road West improvements

Oakville Town Council is moving forward to the design stage on improvements to Lakeshore Road West.

In a special meeting held Tuesday night, Council made the decision after receiving the Preferred Solution proposed in the Environmental Assessment (EA) for Lakeshore Road improvements.

Council is directing staff to find a balance between needed infrastructure, safety and tree preservation.

Requiring them to prepare a detailed design that includes:

• options to limit tree loss
• options to limit the taking of private property
• options to provide a multi-use trail in blocks 2, 3 and 4 of the project area
• an analysis of the climate change impacts
• opportunity for further public consultation

• additional investigation of drainage options to maintain a rural profile

 The EA study on Lakeshore Road improvements is now concluded.

A separate EA will be filed for the McCraney Creek Bridge which is in need of replacement, using information gathered from the Lakeshore Road West study.

“We know there are multiple objectives at play,” said Mayor Rob Burton. “We want and need to provide a safe environment for mobility for all; we want and need to preserve and increase our tree canopy; we want and need to respect the characteristics of the scenic corridor and all that makes Lakeshore special.

“In some cases, we can’t achieve everything to 100 per cent. Council has heard many differing opinions from residents and recognizes a balanced approach is needed.”

Done over four-and-a-half years, the EA includes study, consultation and analysis covering over six kilometres from Mississauga Street to Dorval Drive.

The Town was looking to assess traffic needs along Lakeshore Road West and look for ways to improve vehicle, cyclist and pedestrian accessibility and safety.

That included options like continuous sidewalks, multi-use trails, on-road bike lanes, separated turn lanes, improved intersections, pedestrian crossings, and improvements to pavement and drainage conditions.

A Scenic Corridor Study was completed and endorsed by Council in March 2020, with findings of that study incorporated into the Lakeshore EA evaluation.

The public were provided with opportunities for input into the improvements.

Despite having sections with bike lines, sidewalks and multi-use trails, the current Lakeshore Road West infrastructure is not consistent or continuous.

While the improvements will encourage more people to walk and ride bikes, reducing motor vehicle greenhouse gas emissions, the study found the removal of some trees is necessary to implement the needed infrastructure.

In August 2018, Council directed staff to report back with an option that had no tree or property impacts and limited asphalt or concrete surfaces, but the project team found no option that met all the required elements.

“While we could not meet all of the criteria from the August 2018 direction, we were able to significantly reduce the impacts to property and trees,” said Jill Stephen, director of Transportation and Engineering. “Stormwater improvements are required as well as active transportation infrastructure.

“The recommended solution provides accessibility for all road users, protects the community from flooding risks, addresses climate change impacts, and makes our community more resilient. The detailed design stage will provide further opportunity for fine tuning.”

Detailed design work, including a consultation program, will begin in early 2022. The design will be presented to Council for approval prior to proceeding to construction.