HomeMy WebLinkAboutINS-11-028 - Multi-Use Pathway (Community Trail) Master Plan & Implementation StrategyREPORT TO:Community and Infrastructure Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING:
April 11, 2011
SUBMITTED BY: Jim Witmer, Director of Operations
PREPARED BY:
William Sleeth, Landscape Architect 519-741-2401
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: March 28, 2011
REPORT NO.:
INS-11-028
SUBJECT:
MULTI-USE PATHWAY (Community Trail) MASTER PLAN
AND IMPLEMENTATION STRATEGY
RECOMMENDATION:
For information only.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
A presentation will be made of the partially completed draft report: Multi-use Pathway
Master Plan and Implementation Strategy at the Community and Infrastructure Services
Committee on April 11, 2011. The presentation will be made by Jay Cranstone,
landscape architect and project manager for our consulting team of MMM
Group/Ecoplans Ltd. The purpose of this presentation is to provide an update on the
progress to date, answer any questions from committee members about the study and
to receive any specific suggestions or direction regarding the project.
It is the intention of the study team to present a final draft report for this project to
Community and Infrastructure Committee on May 30, 2011 along with staff
recommendations.
BACKGROUND:
Multi-use Pathway (Community Trail) Master Plan and Implementation Strategy
Terms of Reference
The City of Kitchener has long recognized the importance of providing pedestrian and
cycling routes throughout the city within corridors outside of road rights-of-way. The
report “Linked Open Spaces” published by the Kitchener Department of Planning and
Development in 1972 detailed a vision and recommendations which initiated some
progressive urban planning policies. These included:
The concept of linked open spaces for cycling routes and trails
Linked open space recognition in the Official Plan
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Inclusion of trails and link systems as a required element in all plans of
subdivision
Encourage the development of these facilities as connecting links between
schools, recreation areas, employment areas, residential neighbourhoods and
within both existing and planned communities
Requiring the subdivision developer to dedicate additional rights-of-way for the
implementation of links and trail facilities
All greenways and drainage systems be developed with the aim of use as
pedestrian and cycling links
The city work with federal and provincial levels of government for planning and
funding of linked open space systems of pedestrian and cycling routes in a
similar manner as highway and transit systems
Linked open spaces as pedestrian and cycling routes contributes to the health
and welfare of citizens as well as good urban design
The City of Kitchener has had mixed success with the implementation of this vision over
the past decades. Initially, Kitchener was recognized as a leader in the municipal
development of multi-use trails along urban water courses and hydro corridors. It soon
became more challenging to implement these trails in existing neighbourhoods and
became increasingly more difficult to incorporate them into all new and developing
neighbourhoods and communities due to various constraints in the planning and
development processes.
There are currently approximately 125 km of community trail throughout Kitchener. This
includes extensive trails along the Grand River, known as the Walter Bean Grand River
Trail, numerous trails along hydro corridors, along greenways and water courses and
through natural parks. One heavily used trail connects downtown Kitchener with uptown
Waterloo along a former rail line, known as the Iron Horse Trail. The Trans Canada
Trail also passes through Kitchener connecting to the cities of Cambridge and Waterloo.
The existing trail network provides a good basis for the completion of an excellent city
wide trail system.
Purpose of Master Plan and Implementation Strategy
The purpose of this master plan is to provide a renewed vision for linked open spaces in
Kitchener and examine in detail the current requirements for pedestrian and cycling
routes and facilities outside of road rights-of-way. This master plan will research and
document all related planning and development policies and prepare an implementation
framework including planning policy, the development process, environmental context
and a public participation strategy for implementation phases. The completed master
plan will also include detailed mapping, plans and standard construction details for the
integration of a linked open space system of pedestrian and cycling routes throughout
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the city. The master plan will also include a land acquisition strategy and
recommendations for missing links in the trail and open space system and budget cost
estimates and phasing for all recommendations. The master plan will specifically identify
and address the various “constraints” in the planning and development process that
resulted in the failure to implement previous vision/goals/objectives.
Consulting Services
The City of Kitchener has hired a qualified consulting team, MMM Group/Ecoplans Ltd.
to prepare a comprehensive Multi-use Master Plan and Implementation Strategy for the
city. This will include, but not be limited to, the following:
Preparation of a city wide plan and strategy for the planning, design and
implementation of the city wide multi-use pathway system which serves the needs of
the citizens of Kitchener for walking and cycling outside of road rights-of-way
Establishment of a clear trail hierarchy system based on trail types
Inventory and assessment of the existing community trails
Research and documentation of existing planning and development policies and
processes associated with the planning and implementation of multi-use pathways
and recommended revisions to both policies and processes, including but not limited
to:
Official Plan
Community Plans
Plans of Subdivision
Subdivision Agreements
Engineering Subdivision Manual
Urban and Neighbourhood Design Guidelines and Standards
Grading Control Plans
GRCA and other agency approval process
Other jurisdictions’ best practices and policies for trail provision
Identification of opportunities for improvements to existing trails and the expansion of
the system within existing park and open space in public and private ownership
Identify gaps in the existing and proposed system and make recommendations for
appropriate linkages
Recommendations for improvements and connections of the multi-use pathways
with existing and proposed municipal and regional cycling routes
Location and implementation of staging areas (trail heads) including parking,
recommended distances between and associated facilities such as washrooms
(opportunities for joint use with parks and other facilities)
Preparation of a land acquisition strategy and the identification of specific lands
recommended for acquisition which are required to complete key linkages in the trail
system
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Preparation of a public participation strategy for the implementation of the trail
system within existing built-up areas of the city
Review and update or provide new standard design details for all multi-use
pathways and related infrastructure (e.g. woodlands, wetlands, stream crossings,
parks, road crossings, cycling transportation routes etc.)
Prepare a comprehensive signage strategy including sign infrastructure and
information/graphic details
Integrate multi-use pathway master plan and implementation strategy with
recommendations within the Cycling Master Plan and the new Parks Strategic Plan,
both approved by Council in 2010
Identify typical environmental constraints and regulations to be encountered in the
development of multi-use pathways, within plans of subdivision, existing city lands
and lands subject to future development and make recommendations regarding the
planning, design and approvals policies and processes
Prepare an implementation phasing plan for all multi-use pathways, including
planning and approvals process, public participation, detailed design and
construction phases for manageable segments of the proposed trail system
Prepare budget cost estimates for all aspects of the work recommended in the
master plan and identify phased implementation recommendations of the proposed
plan, including:
planning
detailed design, agency approvals
construction cost estimates
maintenance and operations costing (including analysis of current operating and
maintenance costs)
Provide research and documentation to justify trail costs on the basis of public use,
demographic trends, comparison to other municipal facilities, other municipalities
and current research regarding healthy communities and the role of community trails
Conduct a telephone and/or web based survey to determine public use and
expectations of community trail and consumer trends, including applicable public
awareness and promotion
REPORT:
Multi-use Pathway Master Plan and Implementation Strategy
The goal of this project is to provide the City of Kitchener with a long term plan and
strategy for the implementation of multi-use pathways (community trails) throughout the
city. These off-road pedestrian and cycling routes are an important component of a
‘Healthy Kitchener’. The consultant, MMM Group/Ecoplans Ltd., in consultation with the
public and city staff, will make recommendations on improvements to the existing city
wide trail system, identify gaps in system and identify strategies for the completion of
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the trails in all areas of the city, including existing built up areas and new
neighbourhoods.
Project Process to Date
The project was initiated in June 2010 with Council’s approval to hire our consultants
MMM Group/Ecoplans Ltd.
During the summer of 2010 an extensive and detailed survey was completed of all
existing trails throughout the city and the data generated will form the basis for the
improvement and expansion of the trail system and provide a valuable resource for
ongoing management.
Public consultation was initiated in September 2010 with the publication on the city web
site of a description of the master plan project, a public internet survey and the hosting
of the first public open houses during minor sport registration at Conestoga Mall
,
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September 6th and 7, and at the Kitchener Market, September 18. Another public
open house was held at Kitchener City Hall in February 2011.
A Stakeholder Working Group was established for the project with a broad
representation of members of the public, groups with a specific interest in walking and
cycling, representatives of accessibility and public health committees and the
development industry. This group assisted the staff study team in examining the issues
in greater detail and providing direction. Two workshop type meetings were held with
the Stakeholder Working Group in November 2010 and February 2011.
A presentation will be made of the partially completed draft master plan report at the
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee on April 11, 2011. The presentation
will be made by Jay Cranstone, Landscape Architect and project manager for our
consulting team of MMM Group/Ecoplans Ltd. The purpose of this presentation is to
provide an update on the progress to date, answer any questions from committee
members about the study and to receive any specific suggestions or direction regarding
the project.
It is the intention of the study team to present a final draft report for this project to
Community and Infrastructure Services Committee on May 30, 2011 along with staff
recommendations.
ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Investigation of opportunities for the continued improvement and expansion of the multi-
use pathway (community trail) system throughout Kitchener, through the Multi-use
Pathway Master Plan and Implementation Strategy, coincides with the community
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vision:“Together, we build an innovative, caring and vibrant Kitchener with safe and
thriving neighbourhoods”. Multi-use pathways are the most frequently used recreational
resource in Kitchener, used by the broadest demographic and a key component of
these envisioned neighbourhoods.
Multi-use pathways are an important component of the city wide active transportation
system and address the Community Priority- Environment- Strategic Direction:Develop
a Transportation Demand Management Strategy. A well designed and continuous ‘off-
road’ trail system for walking and cycling, well connected to the ‘on-road’ cycling and
transit systems is a component of this strategy.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
Funding for improvement and expansion of the multi-use pathway network shall be
addressed in the annual capital and operating budgets and 10 year capital forecasts of
the Operations Division.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
The community has been engaged throughout this project through web based media
and surveys, public open houses, stakeholder working groups and committees of
council. Consultation with the public will continue through implementation of the study
recommendations.
ACKNOWLEDGED BY:
Pauline Houston, Deputy CAO, Infrastructure Services Department
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