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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKCTAC Agenda 2021-11-09 Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee: Agenda Office of the City Clerk Tuesday, November 9, 2021 Kitchener City Hall nd 4:00 - 6:00 p.m. 200 King St.W. - 2 Floor Kitchener ON N2G 4G7 Online Chair – Matthew Rodrigues Vice-Chair – Victoria Hand Due to COVID-19 and recommendations by Waterloo Region Public Health to exercise physical distancing, City Hall is closed to the public. Members of public are invited to view this meeting electronically by contacting the Committee Administrator. While in-person delegation requests are not feasible at this time, written comments may be submitted, and electronic participation can be facilitated by contacting Darren Kropf at Darren.kropf@kitchener.ca. Delegates must register by 4:00 p.m. on the business day prior to the meeting in order to participate electronically. Written comments will be circulated prior to the meeting and will form part of the public record. DELEGATIONS Anne Crowe, Grand Watershed Trails Network AGENDA ITEMS 1. Introducing Ashley Visneski (10 min) 2. Places and Spaces (30 min) 3. Grand Watershed Trails Network (15 min) 4. Vision Zero (15 min) 5. On-street wayfinding evaluation (20 min) 6. Events review (10 min) 7. Subcommittee updates (10 min) 8. Staff updates (10 min) COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATORS  Darren Kropf  Liz Christensen  Ivan Balaban Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee 1. Introducing Ashley Visneski Overview Ashley Visneski has been hired in the role of Manager, Parks & Open Space Design and Development, overseeing a team of ten staff in parks and trails development. Expectations of Committee As an icebreaker, committee members are asked to share their favourite park in Kitchener. 2. Places and Spaces From: Sabiha Syed, Mark Parris, Amy Purvis, and Ashley Visneski, Parks city staff Overview In Kitchener, we know parks aren’t just important – they’re essential. Parks are more than the sum of their parts. They are extensions of the communities they are placed in and contribute significantly to the community’s identity and individuals’ connections within it. Whether you use parks to gather, unwind, exercise, socialize, play, or celebrate, we want to hear from you. Let us know what a great park means to you! Places and Spaces is an update to the existing Parks Strategic Plan adopted by City Council in 2010. It will re-evaluate all aspects of parks delivery in Kitchener down to the fundamental level - what makes a quality park in Kitchener? The purpose of this strategy is to:  Re-affirm Kitchener’s vision and commitment to building and maintaining public parks  Provide multiple guiding principles and policy themes to inform future park development  Modernize the process of park acquisitions Expectations of Committee Committee members are asked to complete the survey and encourage others to do so at https://www.engagewr.ca/placesandspaces. Further feedback opportunities will be provided in the future as well. Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee 3. Grand Valley Trails Association From: Anne Crowe, Grand Watershed Trails Network Overview The Grand Watershed Trails Network (GWTN) is an organization dedicated to creating a network of trails (including the rivers) in the Grand River Watershed. We have come up with a proposed route for a main cycling trail, along the Grand from Dundalk to Lake Erie, with two options through Kitchener/Waterloo Region. This would be for the benefit of local recreational cyclists and tourists, and tourism-connected businesses. This map shows the proposed route with the alternatives in Waterloo Region (and some in Brantford): https://www.google.com/maps/d/u/0/edit?mid=1vQoIjtl20NkJPz4I4KJMjCI9M0e1r3H_&u sp=sharing. GWTN is also considering the creation of a Grand Watershed Trails Council (similar to other trails councils around the province). This would be a forum for municipal trail planners and other stakeholders to get together to improve interconnectivity and signage and wayfinding across municipalities. More information about GWTN can be found at https://grandrivertrails.ca/ Expectations of Committee For discussion. Please share your preferred route through Kitchener, as shown in the link above. 4. Vision Zero From: Faranak Hosseini, city staff, Vision Zero subcommittee Overview We want to make roads, sidewalks and trails in Kitchener safer for all ages, abilities, and modes of transportation. The City is developing a Vision Zero strategy and we’re looking forward to your feedback and input on the plan. The City is taking a multi-step approach towards meeting the Vision Zero goal. The draft strategy includes clear actions items that will be informed based on your input and evaluated and revised to ensure continuous progress towards the Vision Zero goal. Expectations of Committee Please read the draft strategy in advance at https://www.kitchener.ca/en/strategic-plans- and-projects/vision-zero-action-items.aspx. Comments welcome. The Vision Zero subcommittee will provide their analysis of the plan and may provide a motion in support. Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee 5. On-street wayfinding evaluation From: Darren Kropf, city staff Overview New on-street cycling wayfinding has been installed on a route that includes neighbourhood bikeways, painted bike lanes and future separated bike lanes. Intended to be a “trial route,” feedback is requested to ensure the signs are effective before rolling out at further locations in the future. Expectations of Committee In advance of the meeting, committee members are asked to ride their bikes between Krug Street/Expressway Trail (between Becker Street and Dumfries Avenue) and Madison Avenue/Iron Horse Trail, following the wayfinding signs that have been installed along the route. For discussion, the following feedback is requested:  Layout – Are the signs an appropriate size and style?  Simple – Is the information clear, logical and digestible at a cyclist’s speed?  Predictable and consistent – Are the placement of signs where you’d expect them?  Progression – Is there a manageable amount of information at appropriate intervals? 6. Events review From: Events subcommittee Overview A small event with the committee was held last month to celebrate the opening of Joseph Street protected bike lanes. Expectations of Committee Committee members are asked to provide feedback on the event and what could be improved for future events. 7. Subcommittee updates Overview All subcommittees are encouraged to provide an update on their discussions and actions since our last meeting. Expectations of Committee For information and discussion. Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee 8. Staff updates From: Darren Kropf, Liz Christensen, Ivan Balaban, city staff Overview City staff will provide updates on a variety of projects underway. Expectations of Committee For information.