Lake Drive Functional Assessment

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 Town of Georgina recently completed the Lake Drive Functional Assessment planning study (the study). The study found and recommended solutions to long-held concerns about the safety and use of Lake Drive and Hedge Road for pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles.

While the study is exempt from Ontario’s Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) system, the Town chose to voluntarily follow the principles of a “Schedule B” class environmental assessment. This was done to achieve a high level of rigor in analysis and decision-making and conduct a comprehensive public consultation process.

The key guiding principles of the study were:

• To improve the safety and utility of the Lake Drive/Hedge Road corridor for all users.
• Identify potential solutions that can be accomplished within the limits of the existing paved roadway.

The study accomplished the following:

• Investigated and examined the existing conditions in the Lake Drive/Hedge Road corridor
• Identified the specific problems to be addressed
• Considered several potential solution options
• Weighed the options based on numerous relevant criteria
• Extensively consulted with the public
• Recommended phased implementation of a set of multi-faceted concepts to address the long-term problems in the Lake Drive/Hedge Road corridor

Complete documentation of the study can be found online below.

Based on the first phase of implementation recommended in the study, Council has approved undertaking detailed design of the recommended concepts for Lake Drive extending from Metro Road North at North Gwillimbury Park to Dalton Road. The proposed concept this corridor involves creation of a seasonal one-way (west to east) single lane for vehicles, with a bi-directional multi-use pathway for pedestrians and cyclists. The design will include a transition zone of two-way vehicle lanes with sharrows for the section of Lake Drive approaching Dalton Road from the west.

The work program approved for design of the first phase includes the following:

1. Collection and analysis of additional data on traffic, pedestrian and parking usage.
2. Detailed design addressing: efficient traffic movements necessary for routine and emergency access to properties and businesses; seasonal implementation considerations; integration with existing features such as driveways and intersections; roadway modifications focused on signage, pavement markings, lane separation markers; and public communication and education.

Following completion of the design and subject to Council approval, construction of this first phase of Lake Drive improvements will be undertaken in future years. After completion of this first phase, assessment of the effect of modifications in these sections of road will help inform and enhance plans to move forward with future phases of improvements to the Lake Drive and Hedge Road corridor.

The public information centre is the last round of engagement and an opportunity for the Town’s stakeholders to provide comments and feedback on the preferred alternatives. The comments and feedback collected through the PIC will be documented, maintained and disclosed for the purpose of transparency and consultation.

After the public information centre, the project team will:

• Review and respond to feedback and comments received including in the evaluation of the preferred alternatives
• Confirm and finalize the preferred alternative design concept, traffic calming measures, cost estimates, and implementation recommendations
• Deliver the final report and meet with the Council in November 2023

If you would like to be added to or removed from our project mailing list or have project-related questions, contact the Town and/or consultant as noted below. Review the PIC presentation.

Owen Sanders

Senior Project Manager
osanders@georgina.ca
905-476-4301, ext. 2902

WSP Canada Inc.
Jay Goldberg
Project Manager, P.Eng., PMP
Jay.Goldberg@wsp.com
289-835-2489

This road functional assessment for Lake Drive and Hedge Road took place in 2023. Residents were invited to comment on this project throughout its duration.

The project is now complete.

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

Town of Georgina Trails and Active Transportation Plan

Waterfront Parks Master Plan

A Functional Assessment Study is a process used to evaluate the operational and safety characteristics of a roadway based on its needs and opportunities.

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.

The Town has three important projects related to Lake Drive and the waterfront:

1. 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.
2. 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.
3. 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.

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.

This project is anticipated to be completed by December 2023.

No, this project is explicitly limited in scope to the paved surface of the existing road width.

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.

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.

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.

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.