FAQs

A Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is a guiding document that sets a long-term vision for multi-modal transportation in the County. It is a functional master plan which provides more detailed recommendations and strategies to improve our transportation system beyond what is outlined within the County’s Official Plan. The process to develop a TMP starts with a vision, which will guide the review of the current transportation system and the areas for improvement. The TMP also reviews best practices and considers emerging trends to identify travel needs in the future. Ultimately, the TMP will identify a series of actions, policies, and programs that the municipality can take to plan for growth and address the multi-modal transportation needs in the County.

The scope of the Transportation Master Plan is to: 

• Set the strategic direction for developing the County’s multi-modal transportation system;
• Lead the County toward a more safe, accessible, equitable and sustainable transportation network, supporting local and interregional connections for all travel modes, while strengthening local economic and tourism opportunities; and
• Support the transportation and growth management strategies of the Official Plan, provide policy directions and inform long-range financial planning.

The Transportation Master Plan will be conducted in accordance with the requirements of Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment which is an approved process under the Environmental Assessment Act and will be developed in three phases. 

Phase 1: Problem and Opportunity Definition: the project vision and opportunity statement will be developed to help guide the TMP. During this phase, an extensive background review of current conditions, existing policies, and data sources will be reviewed to identify current and future problems and opportunities. 

Phase 2: Assessment of Alternatives: focus on the assessment of alternative solutions and address the challenges and opportunities heard during the first phase. A transportation strategy, mode share target, and preferred infrastructure plan will be established to meet the needs of the County.   

Phase 3: Draft and Final Report: the work done to-date will be drafted and finalized in the TMP. 

The Transportation Master Plan will focus primarily on improvements to the transportation system within the County boundary, however, travel demands in the entire region are considered in identifying the need for improvements to boundary roads or important roadway links to the City of St. Thomas and neighbouring municipalities, which may be included in the study recommendations.

Stakeholders and representatives from the City of St. Thomas will be engaged throughout the project, and consultation with surrounding Municipalities and the Ontario Ministry of Transportation will be undertaken to provide input as appropriate. 

In Phase 1, your ideas and inputs will be used to better understand the current transportation issues and opportunities in the County, as well as help to form a vision for the Transportation Master Plan that reflects the desires of residents, visitors, and other stakeholders. In addition, Phase 1 will establish performance criteria for the transportation system and will identify and gather input on future trends related to transportation that might influence how we travel and the types of policies and infrastructure needed in the future.  

In Phase 2, your input will be used to establish a Transportation Strategy that includes mode share targets that will influence the types of investments the County will need to make in transit, trails, cycling, sidewalks and road improvements to achieve the County's transportation vision. Phase 2 will also seek feedback on specific improvement alternatives to refine the County's proposed transportation infrastructure plan and policy directions prior to being included in the final Transportation Master Plan. 

This project will have an important and meaningful impact on your day to day activities including how you get to and from the places you live, work and play within the County and the surrounding region.  Your input is valued and important. There are many ways to participate! Join the conversation here by registering on this site and engaging with our online tools throughout the project. Over the course of the project, we encourage you to monitor the project page for virtual engagement opportunities including surveys, virtual public meetings, interactive mapping or forums.  We look forward to hearing what you have to say!