Developing a Business Case for widening a portion of Highway 7 in Ontario

Highway 7 is the core east-west axis for the VIVA BRT in York Region, Ontario. VIVA BRT operates on center running segregated lanes, with LRT style stops along the corridor, and 6-lanes for traffic in the roadway. Completion to the western border of the region is hindered by a constrained section between Kipling and Islington avenues. There the road is 4-lanes in a cutting with the CP main line to western Canada passing overhead on a 1930’s bridge with two piers and side abutments. Steer was appointed to develop a Business Case for widening this section of Highway 7.

How we helped

Given the need to maintain operations on the CP rail line, core options focused on continued use of the existing bridge structure, with options ranging from additional lanes cut into the cutting sides, a new pier and deck on one side only, a new full width deck on the existing abutments and ultimately a completely new bridge built adjacent to that existing. The different options had varying engineering challenges and risks, as well as cost. The options also provided varying levels of capacity enhancement with all options providing additional lanes for BRT operation, but only some options providing additional traffic lanes.

In parallel to option development, we undertook benefits analysis using modeling outputs from the Region’s 4-stage network demand forecasting model.

Successes and outcomes

The technical analysis undertaken was integrated into a 4-case Business Case document, setting out the planning context, the options developed, and their strategic, economic, financial, and delivery impacts. Only those options that added both BRT and general traffic lanes generated a positive case; however, given the level of bridge works required, these also are the most challenging to implement.