Rail Trail Connection from Marlatts Road to Welland Canal Trail (Municipal Class Environmental Assessment Study)

Study Overview

The City of Thorold has initiated a Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (MCEA) study to determine the preferred connection between the existing Rail Trail and the Welland Canal Trail. An image of the study area is provided in the Photos section. The purpose of this Study is to identify and evaluate several alternative trail alignments to determine the preferred trail alignment between the Rail Trail trailhead to the Welland Canal Trail.

The Process

The Study is being carried out as a Schedule ‘B’ project in accordance with the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (Municipal Engineers Association (MEA), October 2000, as amended in 2007, 2011, 2015, 2023, and 2024), which is an approved process under the Ontario Environmental Assessment Act. The study will complete the first two phases of the MCEA process, which includes public and stakeholder consultation, Indigenous Community engagement, the development and evaluation of alternative solutions primarily based on the City’s Transportation Master Plan (TMP) recommendations as well as others, an assessment of the impacts of the proposed works, and identification of measures to mitigate any adverse effects. Upon completion of the Study, a Project File Report (PFR) will be prepared to summarize the Study findings and filed for a 30-day public review period.