Overview
The Town of Georgina is carrying out a Functional Assessment Study for several segments of Lake Drive and Hedge Road (study area map below).
Lake Drive is a popular corridor in the Town of Georgina, attracting motorists, cyclists and pedestrians who use them for both leisure and commuting. Its stunning views of Lake Simcoe and access to various communities and public parks make it a popular choice for residents and tourists. However, with increasing development, more road users and pedestrians, concerns about mixed road usage have become more common.
This project will allow for a comparative engineering assessment of options, taking into consideration community, technical and financial considerations for all road users and provide long range plans which integrate infrastructure requirements for existing and future land use with environmental assessment planning principles.
Further, this study focuses exclusively on the existing edge-to-edge pavement limits that will not require widening or any other additional elements outside of the existing paved surface.
The study will be developed through technical analysis, best practices, and community consultation to ensure the plan serves the community of Georgina. This development process has the potential to create a corridor with a community-focused lens that will make transportation options safer and more operational.
Project objectives
The project objectives include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Increasing the safety of the corridor for all users
- Moving towards a sustainable future for the waterfront parks
- Improving the functionality of the roadway, including vehicular and pedestrian access
- Providing a safe mix-used corridor to promote active transportation options such as walking and cycling
The project is organized into the following phases:
- Phase 1: Project background review and problem statement - Understand the community’s existing conditions through technical analysis, policy reviews, site visits and engaging with Town staff and the Council. Spring 2023
- Phase 2: Public and stakeholder engagement – Engaging with residents and users of the corridor, collect feedback through public survey and virtual workshops and beach pop-up sessions. Summer 2023
- Phase 3: Identification and high-level evaluation of alternative solutions – Determine the alternative options for improving the status quo, assessing impacts of each alternative and the cost associated with each option to demonstrate the study's success, and engage with residents and stakeholders. Summer and fall 2023
- Phase 4: Final evaluation and reporting – Develop cost estimates for design and construction of each alternative for each section of the study area, and prepare a prioritized list of construction timelines for the preferred alternatives. Fall 2023
How to provide input
There will be several opportunities to engage throughout the project where the Town will be looking to stakeholders, rights holders and community members to provide input to guide the development of the alternative options for the corridor. Some upcoming engagement opportunities to participate in the project are listed below:
- Public Information Centre and learn about the proposed alternatives and provide your feedback. The PIC is scheduled to be held in fall 2023. The details will be provided later on this project webpage.
- Reach out to the members of the project team. Contact information can be found below.
Photos
Virtual workshop from Aug. 17, 2023
Public engagement
The Town of Georgina is doing a Functional Assessment Study for Lake Drive and Hedge Road to develop and compare alternatives for potential modifications to the roadway. Join us for a Public Information Centre on Sept. 26 at the chapel at De La Salle Park between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
Share your thoughts
The Town held virtual sessions on Zoom on Aug. 15 and 17 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.
The Town also held in-person engagement sessions on Aug. 20, 2023
Willow Beach - Park Area 10 a.m. to noon
De La Salle Park 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
There will be a Public Information Centre and learn about the proposed alternatives and provide your feedback. The PIC is scheduled to be held on Sept. 26 at the chapel at De La Salle Park between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.
You can also reach out to the members of the project team. Contact information can be found below.
Town contact
Ryan Post, Project Manager
Consultant
WSP
Jay Goldberg
Project Manager, P.Eng., PMP
Jay.Goldberg@wsp.com
Timelines
Timelines
This road functional assessment for Lake Drive and Hedge Road will take place in 2023. Residents will be invited to comment on this project throughout its duration.
Important links
Frequently asked questions
What is a road functional assessment?
A Functional Assessment Study is a process used to evaluate the operational and safety characteristics of a roadway based on its needs and opportunities.
Will this study have any impacts to my property?
No. Any and all recommendations arising from this study will not require property acquisition, nor expanding the paved roadway of Lake Drive and Hedge Road. Alternatives will be determined based on the existing edge-to-edge pavement.
How does this project relate to the Lake Drive Shoreline Action Plan and the Waterfront Parks Master Plan?
The Town has three important projects related to Lake Drive and the waterfront:
- Lake Drive Shoreline Action Plan: The Town is working on resolving ownership and liability issues related to indirect waterfront lots along Lake Drive North and East. The Town Council established a committee in 2015 to find solutions that satisfy all stakeholders. The Town supports the continued access of indirect waterfront owners to the waterside shoreline land. The Lake Drive Action Plan, developed in 2017, outlines operational and policy decisions to reach a resolution.
- Waterfront Parks Master Plan: The Town is developing a plan to guide the operation and management of Town waterfront parks. It covers all waterfront lands, including beaches, parks, and more. The Town wants to address issues like overcrowding, access for vehicles and pedestrians, parking, and infrastructure requirements. The plan responds to concerns raised by residents and aims to find a balance between serving local residents and seasonal populations.
- Lake Drive Road Functional Assessment: The Town is working on improving Lake Drive Road to address its current challenges. These include narrow lanes, poor sight lines, and a lack of sidewalks and paved shoulders. The Town’s goal is to create a safe mixed-use corridor for active transportation while maintaining access and traffic operations. Importantly, the Town is not acquiring any additional land as part of this study. The project team will assess various options through an engineering assessment, considering community, technical, and financial factors.
These projects demonstrate the Town’s commitment to improving Lake Drive, managing waterfront parks and addressing complex matters related to waterfront property ownership.
Why is the Town doing this study?
Lake Drive is a multi-purpose road used extensively by motorists, cyclists and pedestrians for access to Lake Simcoe. This roadway has a number of factors that makes travel by multiple users a challenge including narrow lanes, poor sight lines, and a lack of sidewalks and paved shoulders. Concerns have been raised by residents and road users regarding road safety so all user groups could share its use in a safe manner.
This project will allow for a comparative engineering assessment of options, taking into consideration community, technical and financial considerations for all road users and provide long-range plans which integrate infrastructure requirements for existing and future land use with environmental assessment planning principles.
What is the timeline of the study?
This project is anticipated to be completed by December 2023.
Will this project include any land use outside the paved surface of the existing road?
No, this project is explicitly limited in scope to the paved surface of the existing road width.
How will the outcomes of this project be implemented and what are the next steps?
This project will provide a summary of the preferred alternative options for the Town’s consideration to improve the functionality of the roadway. The preferred options will consider community, technical and financial considerations. Subject to Council approval, the next steps will be implemented through the preliminary and detailed design phase followed by construction.
How can I be kept informed on this project?
Stakeholder engagement is critical for this project’s success. The Town will employ multiple communication channels for project updates including a Public Information Centre scheduled for mid-September.
Why is Hedge Road part of the study area?
Hedge Road exhibits several similar features as Lake Drive East, e.g., narrow road width, poor sightlines, lack of sidewalks. This road was included in this project as a provisional item to provide corridor continuity and also leverage benefit from other Town initiatives.
Does this study involves conducting a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment?
This project is exempt from the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCA) process (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023). However, given the complexity of the corridor, the Town is carrying out this Study to generally follow the Schedule B process under the MCEA.
By following the MCEA process, the Lake Drive and Hedge Road Functional Assessment Study will define the problems and opportunities, identify potential alternatives and evaluate those alternatives based on their potential impacts.