Township of Laurentian Valley/City of Pembroke Transportation Master Plan East-West Traffic

The Township of Laurentian Valley in partnership with the City of Pembroke has retained Paradigm Transportation Solutions Limited to complete the Township of Laurentian Valley/City of Pembroke Transportation Master Plan for East-West Traffic.

The Transportation Master Plan for East-West Traffic will provide important information and recommendations to guide Official Plan policies and development approval decisions, as well as future decisions on transportation infrastructure. As a collaborative project with the City of Pembroke, the Master Plan provides the opportunity to ensure a holistic approach to future decisions on transportation.

What is a Transportation Master Plan?

A Transportation Master Plan (TMP) is a strategic policy document that guides how a municipality’s transportation system will grow and develop over the long term. The plan works together with a municipality’s Official Plan, which directs land use and development patterns, as well as other master plans such as those concerning municipal servicing, parks and recreation, and economic development. Generally, Transportation Master Plans examine current transportation issues within a community, assess existing and future growth patterns, determine the need for transportation improvements, and establish policies to support the plan and maintain the transportation network.

Why do municipalities need a TMP?

The Township of Laurentian Valley and City of Pembroke are growing, with new commercial uses emerging along the Highway 148/Pembroke Street East corridor and plans for residential development to the south and west edges of Pembroke on lands within the City and along its boundary with the Township. The Town of Petawawa, while outside the immediate study area, is also experiencing growth, putting pressure on the Pembroke Street West (Renfrew County Road 51) corridor leading into the City. Over the longer term, this pattern of growth may put additional strain on the existing east-west road network within the Township and City – a network bisected by the Muskrat River and featuring few arterial road crossings.

With the Township and City poised for continued prosperity and growth, it requires a strategy to address existing traffic concerns and plan to meet future transportation needs. The Township of Laurentian Valley and City of Pembroke Official Plans set out broad transportation system objectives, but do not identify the specific transportation improvement projects needed to serve planned growth. The Transportation Master Plan will address these needs.  

What will the study involve?

The Transportation Master Plan will assess the existing transportation network to identify potential improvements to meet current and future needs. Ultimately, the integrated plan will also provide a policy framework to support sustainable transportation practices and livable communities as Laurentian Valley and Pembroke grow over time. In delivering this policy framework, the plan is expected to:

• Review Highway 148 as it relates to traffic management and future development;
• Review the performance of the existing road network based on existing traffic and new data collected;
• Develop projections of future traffic from Provincial highways, County roads, and local growth;
• Evaluate the ability of existing infrastructure to meet future needs;
• Identify and propose ways to address current and future road needs;
• Create a balanced transportation system that supports active and alternative transportation options, including sustainable choices like walking and cycling;
• Provide supporting policies on matters related to the design and operation of the transportation network, including matters such as safety, traffic management and pedestrian crossings;
• Itemize infrastructure requirements for building and maintaining the transportation network in the short, medium and long-term, including anticipated costs; and
• Identify potential funding sources for future works.

How can I provide input?

Public and stakeholder participation is an essential component of the Transportation Master Plan Study. The public engagement program for the study has been designed to encourage meaningful, two-way communication so that the final plan aligns with the Township’s and City’s vision and unique community features. This will include opportunities to converse with the consultant team, Township and City staff and provide input on ideas and recommendations through an online survey and open house as work progresses.

Step 1: Complete the Survey (now closed)

Step 2: Attend the Public Open House on December 13, 2023 at the Shady Nook Recreation Centre

Engaging the community is a vital component of this study. The next step is a Public Open House to present preliminary study recommendations and allow members of the public to discuss their ideas with members of the project team. More information is contained in the Notice below