Arthur Street Improvements and Potential Elmira Bypass

This project supports the Region of Waterloo's strategic focus area(s)(External link):

The Region of Waterloo is considering potential changes to Arthur Street (Regional Road 85) to improve conditions for all modes of travel and support a growing Waterloo Region. The Region is initiating a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study (the Study) with a Study Area divided into two parts:

Part A: Arthur Street (Waterloo to Elmira)

This section considers changes to Arthur Street from north of King Street in Waterloo to the south of Elmira at Listowel Road. The work will consider facilities for people walking, rolling, cycling, and using public transit; it will also feature safety improvements and intersection improvements.

Part B: Potential Elmira Bypass

This section considers alternatives to redirect trucks and other through traffic away from Elmira’s downtown core, supporting a desire to shift to a pedestrian-focused environment and other improvements in active transportation options. The Study area is around the Town of Elmira, bordered by Listowel Road to the south, Floradale Road to the west, Reids Woods Drive to the north, and east of Canagagigue Creek to the east.

Please see the Study Area under Project Images.

Project Objectives

The Study will seek to answer the key questions of:

1. What should be done to improve existing Arthur Street between Waterloo and Elmira.
2. What is the long-term plan to address traffic issues related to through traffic, specifically trucks, travelling through the Elmira downtown core.

The input received from the public and other stakeholders will inform the evaluation process and the eventual recommendation for a preferred alternative that will be brought back to Regional Council for approval.

Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Process

This Study will follow the planning and design process of the Municipal Engineers Association’s Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for a Schedule ‘C’ undertaking (October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015 and 2023), which is an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. Please see the Notice of Study Commencement under Project Documents on this page.

How to Get Involved

Public and stakeholder engagement will support and inform the technical components of the Study.

Public Consultation Centre

An online, pre-recorded presentation and a survey is available for public review starting on October 28, 2024, on this page. The presentation will provide an overview of the problems and opportunities, the results of transportation analysis and the alternatives considered. The survey will be open until November 22, 2024.

An in-person Public Consultation Centre will be held to deliver the presentation in person and allow the public to ask questions to staff and provide feedback.

Please join us to provide in-person feedback on the Study:

Day: Thursday, November 7, 2024

Time: 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Presentation at 7:30 p.m.)

Location: Community Centre Room at the Woolwich Memorial Centre

24 Snyder Avenue South, Elmira, ON N3B 1Z1

To receive emails on project updates and engagement opportunities, you can:

• “Subscribe” to the EngageWR project page
• Reach out to the Project Team Member listed under "Who’s listening"