What is the Hunt Street Extension?

    In 2016, the Town of Ajax completed a Class Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Hunt Street and Finley Avenue Improvements Project in accordance with Schedule C of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) process.

    The purpose of the project was to address increased travel demands in the study area as a result of anticipated growth to 2031 and address existing intersection operational issues within the Study Area by taking advantage of the opportunity to: 

    • Improve existing and future traffic flow and connectivity. 
    • Accommodate future transportation demand resulting from redevelopment and intensification of Downtown Ajax. 
    • Provide additional capacity to access the Ajax GO station. 
    • Provide opportunities for cycling and walking through the Study Area.

    In order to address the above operational issues, the study recommended extending Hunt Street westerly from the existing Hunt/MacKenzie intersection to the intersection with Westney Road in the vicinity of O’Brien Court, including a below grade crossing of the existing CNR rail tracks. 

    Two Public Information Centres were held for the study and the study was documented in an Environmental Study Report, which received environmental clearance in 2016. 

    What is the purpose of this current study?

    In 2022, WSP completed a Feasibility Study which identified a recommended alternative that differs from that approved in the 2016 ESR. The Feasibility Study recommended an at-grade crossing of the CNR corridor, rather than the below grade crossing as recommended in the 2016 ESR. The purpose of this current study is to document the proposed changes to the 2016 ESR recommended alternative, the revised design plans, the associated environmental effects and mitigating measures to address environmental impacts.

    What are the next steps in the study process?

    An Environmental Study Report (ESR) Addendum has been prepared to document the proposed changes to the 2016 ESR recommended alternative, the revised design plans and the associated environmental effects and mitigating measures to address environmental impacts. On February 8, 2024, the ESR Addendum was filed for a 30-day comment period and is available for review on this webpage: ESR Addendum.

    Interested persons are encouraged to review the ESR Addendum and provide comments by March 9, 2024. All comments and concerns should be sent directly to a Project Team member. In addition, a request may be made to the Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks (MECP) for an order requiring a higher level of study (i.e., requiring an individual/comprehensive EA approval before being able to proceed), or that conditions be imposed (e.g. require further studies), only on the grounds that the requested order may prevent, mitigate or remedy adverse impacts on constitutionally protected Aboriginal and treaty rights.

    Information about how to submit comments or questions on the ESR Addendum is included in the Notice of Addendum, which has also been sent to the study contact list and advertised on the Town’s website, social media account, Inside Ajax Community Page, and e-news article.

    If there are no concerns raised during the 30-day comment period or during the MECP review period, the project will then proceed to the detail design stage before construction. Construction is anticipated to begin within the next 5 to 10 years.

    Where do I send my comments or questions?

    We invite any questions or comments you may have about this study. You can send any comments or questions to the Project Team members listed below. Please also contact us to be added to the study contact list.  

    • Brett Sears, WSP Consultant Project Manager, at 289-982-4752 or Brett.Sears@wsp.com; or  
    • Dhaval Pandya, Project Manager, Town of Ajax, at 905-619-2529, ext. 3209 or Dhaval.Pandya@ajax.ca