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HomeMy WebLinkAboutKCTAC Minutes 2020-10-13 CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER October 13, 2020 The Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee met electronically on Tuesday October 13, 2020, at 4 pm. Present: M. Clark, M. Rodrigues, G. Kirk, D. Brotherston, S. Councillor Marsh, D. Hoshowksky, V. Hand, G. Piccini, B. Forwell Staff: D. Kropf, Active Transportation Planning Project Manager L. Christensen, Multi-Use Pathways & Trails Project Manager B. Cronkite, Director, Transportation Services N. Lobley, Director, Parks & Cemeteries 1. Project updates City staff shared updates on several projects:  New street art was installed on Gaukel Street  Construction is underway on the Dutch-inspired roundabout at Huron and Strasburg. Crossrides are still outstanding.  Asphalt has been laid in Budd Park trail, connecting to the trail along Homer Watson Boulevard. Landscaping, paint and signage are still to come.  Queen Street placemaking construction is nearing the finish, with some of the streetscape, furniture and street art completed. Some bike racks have been installed. 2. Secure bike parking D. Kropf reported that additional bike racks have been installed at the new secure bike parking areas at Kitchener Market and Duke & Ontario garages. These racks are for vertical parking, a new design for the city. D. Kropf asked if anyone has used the racks and what they thought of them. D. Brotherston hasn’t tried them but thinks they look like solid vertical racks similar to what he’s used elsewhere. Compatible with fenders. Could be worth putting on instruction card that users flip up the front of their bike. V. Hand asked if they are compatible with trailers or cargo bikes. D. Kropf responded that the vertical racks are not, but there are floor level racks as well for those purposes. G. Piccini asked how to register and if one card works for all of the locations? D. Kropf responded that you can sign up online at kitchener.ca/bikeparking and one pass gives access to all 5 locations. G. Kirk commented that a picture of a bike on the rack is helpful and could be posted beside the racks. CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER October 13, 2020 D. Hoshowsky asked if there is wayfinding signage to find it the bike parking with the garage. D. Kropf resonded that all bike parking is right at the main entrances of the garages. 3. Cycling and Trails Master Plan L. Christensen provided a high-level summary of the Cycling and Trails Master Plan, being presented to Community & Infrastructure Services Committee on October 23, 2020. M. Rodrigues requested an update to the map and if it could include an interactive map with active projects. There may be better ways to communicate what is happening in the year, such as Cambridge’s project completion dashboard. N. Lobley, acknowledged we can do better with online mapping and need to give more information on trails. City website is getting revamped and will have more project based landing pages. M. Rodrigues asked what this committee’s role will be in implementing the master plan. B. Cronkite responded that an enhanced terms of reference can help to define that and this committee can be really hands-on for the Culture and Experience action items.. D. Brotherston suggested showing how individual projects tie to the larger network, especially in relation to the spines, and how it helps people get to places. D. Brotherston moved “that the committee endorse the Cycling and Trails Master Plan as presented.” Seconded by M. Clark. Passes unanimously. M. Rodrigues and V. Hand will coordinate a delegation for committee or council. 4. Downtown Cycling Grid D. Kropf shared that a final phase of consultation for the Downtown Cycling Grid is underway. A survey will be available this week, as well as online open houses and presentation to various stakeholders. The committee discussed how it can support engagement for this project. Ideas included:  mailing individual tenants and not just property owners. Make flyers available to be printed and posted in multi-residential buildings.  Engage with bike shops in downtown and possibly uptown as well.  Street notification signs are up and hard to miss  Important to hear from the non-cycling advocates as well, such as business owners.  Would be nice to hear from some parents getting to schools. CYCLING AND TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE MINUTES CITY OF KITCHENER October 13, 2020 S. Marsh noted it’s really helpful to hear from people that haven’t been heard from before at council and encouraged the committee to share with their friends and family 5. Special greeting from Mayor Vrbanovic Mayor Vrbanovic expressed his thanks for the committee’s hard work on this important work. The pandemic has made the need for active transportation and trails even more important. Despite challenges like Westmount Road with vocal opposition, he has still heard from local residents who appreciated the traffic calming effects. The committee needs to recognize there is anxiety with businesses struggling through COVID and need to give them opportunities for success. The mayor expects to see federal stimulus funding coming and we want to be ready to get that funding for cycling and trails. 6. Social gathering M. Rodrigues will send out a doodle poll to get together for an in person and distanced social gathering. 7. Other business D. Brotherston shared that there are several projects seeking input at the City of Waterloo and encouraged members to give their feedback. Meeting adjourned at 5:30 pm.