FAQs

Completing the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for the proposed West Brant Access Route has been identified as a key recommendation of the City’s current and previous Transportation Master Plan (TMP) that identifies the necessary infrastructure to meet the demands of the city’s forecasted growth. Essentially, the proposed extension from Hardy Road between the Kramer’s Way / Hardy Road intersection and Colborne Street West would provide a third Grand River crossing for residents, businesses and visitors. The additional river crossing would be located in an area upstream of the two existing crossings near the city’s core, ultimately providing an alternative crossing in the event of an emergency requiring closure of the existing crossings.

The City of Brantford is sensitive to families who have an association with the Oakhill Cemetery, which is owned and operated by the City. Ensuring the safe operation and continued access to Oak Hill Cemetery is a key priority and major consideration in the West Brant Access Route Environmental Assessment currently underway and in the initial Feasibility Study that was completed in 2019. For decades, the City has been open about this transportation corridor as part of our long-term Transportation Master Plan and Official Plan. 

In fact, it was necessary to consider the eventual plan to develop this corridor as part of the Oak Hill Cemetery’s Master Plan in 1990 prior to its opening in 1993. Since the corridor is recognized in the Cemetery Plan, there are no existing grave sites nor future plots that would be impacted with any alignment in the vicinity of the Cemetery. The road design will also take into consideration the need for continued easy access to the site and for safe connectivity between the components of the Cemetery that will be located on both sides of the transportation corridor.

Currently, traffic flow in Brantford is heavily dependent on downtown streets including Brant Avenue, Clarence Street/Clarence Street South, Paris Road, Colborne Street and Dalhousie Street as ways to get across the city and to access Highway 403. These primary arteries of the city will become even more congested as the city grows. The West Brant Access Route will provide an alternative to passing through Brantford’s downtown to get to retail and employment areas as well as access to the 403.

The West Brant Access Route is expected to redirect approximately 3,600 vehicles per day from Rest Acres Road and Brant Avenue/Lorne Bridge by 2041, making those roads less congested.

The introduction of several thousand vehicles annually is expected to increase noise levels, however, taking this into serious account, the Environmental Assessment will include measuring the noise levels for the properties closest to the project. 

These measures may include, but not necessarily be limited to, tree plantings, berms, naturalized landscaping and noise walls.

Air pollution is typically a regional concern and difficult to isolate on specific transportation corridors. However, air pollution due to emission will be decreased because of reduced travel time and distance. Traffic analysis has determined that a West Brant Access Route would both reduce travel times to/from southwest Brantford and Highway 403 by 21 to 23% in addition to reducing travel distance by 4 to 6%. Tree plantings, naturalized landscaping and other measures along the roadway that will be implemented to reduce noise pollution, will also help filter air pollution along the West Brant Access Route.

Recognizing the vital importance of trails in our community, the objective of this project is not only to maintain but to enhance the local trail network and their connection to local natural environments. The new roadway will have a multi-use trail on one or both sides to provide added routes for active transportation. Where existing trails are displaced by the proposed roadway, the construction of new alternative trails will be proposed to ensure that use and enjoyment of the area trail system continues and grows.

While there will be some impact to the local natural environment and habitats as part of the construction of the West Brant Access Route, the protection, preservation and, wherever possible, the enhancement of existing wildlife habitats within the study area is a key priority. Before construction can begin, the City will require permits from the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP), Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry (MNRF) and Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), all of whom will require that the final designs be in complete compliance with the latest federal and provincial regulations protecting to the furthest extent possible and practical any identified Species-at-Risk (SAR) and their habitats.

As part of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment currently underway, the consultant team is completing detailed inventories of the area’s terrestrial and aquatic habitats and working closely with the MNRF to identify any Species-at-Risk (SAR) or other significant environmental features such as wetland areas that might be directly or indirectly impacted by the project.

Roadway alignments and designs will be selected with the objective of minimizing the footprint of the new roadway or bridge and providing a full range of measures to mitigate identified environmental impacts. Features such as wildlife crossings and the creation of new and expanded habitats at alternative locations within the corridor will also be considered.

Yes. The City has studied several different options. Through the Transportation Master Plan, the City examined several ways to manage future traffic pressures on our major roads as Brantford continues to grow over the next two decades. This included looking at ways to reduce the need for driving through measures such as improved signal timing, parking or turn restrictions, and other traffic‑management tools. The City also explored how shifting more trips to walking, cycling, and transit could help, by improving active transportation networks and strengthening transit service in growing areas.

Even with these improvements, the Transportation Master Plan found that traffic congestion would remain a significant issue on major routes such as Brant Avenue, Lorne Bridge, Paris Road, and Hardy Road. As a result, the study also explored widening these existing roads to address the capacity issues. However, widening would require the purchase of significant amounts of property and would create major impacts on nearby homes, businesses, and established neighbourhoods.

Because of the limitations of these options, the Plan also examined the possibility of creating a new north–south connection between Colborne Street and Hardy Road. This connection, often referred to as the Oak Park Road Extension, would reduce pressure on congested corridors and provide the additional capacity needed to support future growth. After reviewing all alternatives, the Transportation Master Plan concluded that the best overall solution is providing new north–south road capacity in the long‑protected transportation corridor first identified in the 1981 Brantford Corridor Study and carried forward in subsequent plans, including the City’s Official Plan.

A feasibility study has already explored potential routes and design concepts within this corridor. The current Environmental Assessment is now taking a closer and more detailed look at the various alignment options, methods for adding road capacity, and ways to minimize environmental, social, and economic impacts.