The City of Oshawa is actively engaging its residents to help shape the future of local mobility by hosting the second Public Open House focused on the Integrated Transportation Master Plan and the Active Transportation Master Plan. Scheduled for Wednesday, June 17, this drop-in session will be held at the Civic Recreation Centre, located at 99 Thornton Rd. S., running from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. This event represents a pivotal step in the municipality’s ongoing efforts to outline a comprehensive strategy for how people and goods will move efficiently throughout the city over the next three decades.
The primary objective of these master plan updates is to establish a robust framework that aligns seamlessly with the City of Oshawa’s Strategic Plan objectives. The study aims to rigorously address several critical performance factors essential for a thriving urban environment, including overall road safety, universal accessibility for all users, enhanced connectivity between diverse neighborhoods, and long-term environmental sustainability across all existing and future modes of transportation. By thoroughly evaluating the current network and identifying necessary improvements, the city intends to create a resilient system that effectively accommodates rapid population growth and the evolving needs of the community within the full municipal boundary.
This extensive study is being carried out in strict accordance with the mandatory requirements of Phases 1 and 2 of the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process, which is an approved process under the Environmental Assessment Act. The project is proceeding with Approach #1 for Master Plans to ensure a thorough, transparent, and compliant evaluation of all infrastructural considerations. The scope of the study encompasses all lands within the City of Oshawa, ensuring that community-wide transportation needs are assessed holistically rather than in isolation, taking into account everything from major arterial roads to pedestrian pathways and cycling networks.
During the upcoming Public Open House, attendees will have the valuable opportunity to review detailed materials and engage in discussions with the project team. There will be no formal presentation during this session; instead, the format is designed as a flexible drop-in event to allow residents to ask specific questions and provide detailed feedback at their own pace. The gathering is set to take place in Rooms 1 and 2 of the Civic Recreation Centre, providing a convenient and accessible venue for direct dialogue regarding the evaluation of various transportation network alternatives.
For community members who are unable to attend the event in person, the City of Oshawa has established several alternative methods to ensure broad and inclusive participation. Residents are strongly encouraged to visit the Connect Oshawa portal to view the project background information and complete an online feedback form to identify specific areas where issues and opportunities may exist along the current transportation system. Additionally, paper feedback forms are readily available at Service Oshawa, located on the ground floor of City Hall at 50 Centre St. S. All comments regarding the material will be accepted until noon on Friday, July 17.
Leading the project team are Shanthi Sambasivam, Project Manager for the City of Oshawa, and Lachlan Fraser, Project Manager with WSP Canada, who are overseeing the study’s technical progression. Future consultation event notifications regarding the study’s next stages will be systematically posted on the project website and emailed to individuals who have registered for updates. As the city moves forward with identifying preferred alternatives and next steps, the continued input from the public remains a vital component in supporting Oshawa’s current and future transportation infrastructure needs.
