FAQs

A Transportation Master Plan (TMP) provides direction on future transportation investment that supports community growth over the next two decades. This plan represents a new vision for the City, identifying a multi-modal, complete streets approach to the planning, design and implementation of transportation infrastructure to support and realize the City’s strategic directions and policies.

Typically, a TMP should include:

• Investments in infrastructure and service towards a horizon year and ensure consistency with the Regional and Provincial ultimate horizon year.
• Coordination with other jurisdictions that provide connected transportation services to the municipality.
• Input for future Development Charges (DC) for new developments or redevelopments occurring within the municipality. 
• The requirements to satisfy Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process (as amended in 2015) for proposed transportation projects, facilities, and services within the municipality. 
• Compliance with AODA standards for both documentation and recommendations.

The TMP was completed in two phases following the master plan requirements of Approach 1 of the Municipal Class E.A.

• Phase 1 identified and assessed the existing transportation conditions and engaged staff, agencies, key stakeholders and the public on the overall vision and direction of the plan.
• Phase 2 included an analysis, investigation and identification of potential infrastructure improvements, a complete streets approach / process to transportation planning and decision making and policy improvements to guide St. Catharines into the next two decades.

This is the second of the two points of consultation and engagement required with stakeholders and the public. By fulfilling these Phases, several proposed infrastructure projects will be considered “pre-approved” under the new MCEA requirements or would not be required to complete these steps again prior to Phases 3 through 5 of the process (as needed). 

The Transportation Master Plan will focus primarily on improvements to the transportation system within the City. There may be considerations made to advance transportation options across the Region as appropriate to provide connections between municipalities.

The TMP will focus on all ways that people and goods move within the City. A multi-modal, complete streets approach was used to ensure that the TMP looked at all forms of travel, including walking, cycling, taking transit and driving.

Complete Streets are designed to be safe, convenient and comfortable for every user, regardless of transportation mode, physical ability or age. A well-designed complete street will promote activity, livability and connectivity and result in a network of transportation infrastructure and services that enables people to travel seamlessly on any given mode of transportation. 

While it is not appropriate to accommodate every mode on every street (for instance, public transit is not designed to service every local road), the complete streets mentality ensures that there is a network of transportation infrastructure that supports a full range of mobility options. 

Your input will be used to inform potential refinements to the draft recommendations and to identify challenges or opportunities that should be considered prior to finalizing the TMP.

To date, City Council has participated in the Transportation Master Plan process formally by reviewing the draft recommendations and discussing with the project team on further considerations. All Councilors will be invited as stakeholders to community and stakeholder workshops.