durhamregion.com This Week | Thursday,February 3, 2022 | 6 THIS NOTICE WAS FIRST PUBLISHED ON JANUARY 20, 2022. Metrolinx, in collaboration with Durham Region and City of Toronto, has completed an Environmental Project Report (EPR) in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08 for the Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit Project. THE PROJECT The Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit corridor is a proposed transportation corridor connecting people through Durham Region and Scarborough. With rapid growth in the past decade and an expectation for this growth to continue in the future, demand for travel along the corridor will continue to increase and a higher capacity form of transit will link communities and employment on both sides of the Toronto-Durham boundary. An Initial Business Case was completed in Spring 2018 to define the corridor and identify initial project costs, benefits and direction. Metrolinx is committed to continued community engagement on this project and is now studying the potential environmental impacts and proposed mitigation measures for the Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit corridor. The Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit Project proposes approximately 36 kilometres of dedicated transit infrastructure, connecting Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, Pickering and Scarborough. This project builds on the existing PULSE service and will provide more dedicated infrastructure along Highway 2 and Ellesmere Road to connect to Scarborough Centre. The proposed project will include dedicated bus lanes, road expansion and modifications, and bus shelters/platforms and infrastructure to support the new Bus Rapid Transit. THE PROCESS The environmental impact of the transit project was assessed during the Transit Project Assessment Process (TPAP) and an Environmental Project Report (EPR) was prepared in accordance with Ontario Regulation 231/08 - Transit Projects and Metrolinx Undertakings (made under the Environmental Assessment Act). The EPR for the Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit project is available for a 30-day public review period starting January 21, 2022 on the project website: https://www.metrolinxengage.com/dsbrt. Interested persons are encouraged to review the documents and provide comments by February 22, 2022 to: Stephen Linton Senior Manager, Community Engagement Metrolinx e-mail: DSBRT@metrolinx.com tel. : 416-202-7423 There are circumstances where the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks 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 is related 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 they may receive within 30 days of first publishing the Notice of Completion. If you have discussed your issues with the proponent(s) and you object to the project, you can provide a written submission to the Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks no later than February 22, 2022 to the contact provided below. All submissions must clearly indicate that an objection is being submitted and describe any negative impacts to matters of provincial importance (natural/cultural environment) or Aboriginal rights. Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks Environmental Assessment Branch Attn: Anne Cameron, Project Officer e-mail: anne.cameron@ontario.ca tel. : 437-246-2066 / Toll-free: 1-800-461-6290 If not already provided, a copy of the objection will be forwarded to the proponent by the Ministry. Comments and information regarding this project are being collected to assist in meeting the requirements of the Environmental Assessment Act. 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, Conservation and Parks for the purpose of transparency and consultation. The information is collected under the authority of the Environmental Assessment Act or 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 DSBRT@metrolinx.com or the Senior Privacy Officer for Metrolinx at 416-202-5941. Metrolinx is working to provide residents and businesses in the Greater Golden Horseshoe with a transportation system that is modern, efficient, and integrated. Find out more about Metrolinx's Regional Transportation Plan at www.metrolinx.com. Aussi disponible en français. Pour plus d'informations, veuillez contacter DSBRT@metrolinx.com. Notice of Completion of Environmental Project Report Durham-Scarborough Bus Rapid Transit Project Transit Project Assessment Process