HomeMy WebLinkAboutKCTAC Agenda 2021-05-11
Kitchener Cycling and Trails
Advisory Committee: Agenda
Office of the City Clerk
Tuesday, May 11, 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
J. Belanger, K. Marshall, Region of Waterloo
AGENDA ITEMS
1. Micromobility (15 min)
2. New Terms of Reference (20 min)
3. Complete Streets 2023 (20 min)
4. Iron Horse Trail crossings (20 min)
5. Trail construction in 2021 (15 min)
6. Better Benton (15 min)
7. All advisory committee chairs report (5 min)
8. 50x30WR report (5 min)
9. Staff updates (5 min)
COMMITTEE ADMINISTRATORS
Darren Kropf
Liz Christensen
Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee
1. Micromobility
From: J. Belanger, Region of Waterloo
K. Marshall, Region of Waterloo
Overview
The city of Kitchener’s strategic plan includes the launch of a subsidized bikeshare
program. This will be done in partnership with the Region of Waterloo, City of Waterloo
and City of Cambridge. It is expected that other forms of micromobility, including e-
scooters, e-bikes and/or e-cargo bikes, may also be included as part of a sharing
system.
Regional staff will provide a summary of progress made thus far in support of this action
item.
C. Schafer of Bird Canada has provided a written submission on this topic, attached via
email.
Expectations of Committee
For information. Further discussion expected in future meetings.
2. New terms of reference
From: Darren Kropf, city staff
Overview
In 2020-2021, the committee has considered possible changes to the committee’s
Terms of Reference. The changes would expand the committee’s mandate to
emphasize safety, accessibility, comfort and convenience of streets and trails for all
users, with an emphasis on active transportation and protecting vulnerable users
(pedestrians and cyclists).
Expectations of Committee
Please review the draft new terms of reference, attached via email. Following potential
amendments to the draft terms of reference, the committee may move a motion to
approve the new terms of reference and recommend their adoption by City Council.
3. Complete Streets 2023
From: Greg Piccini, Aleksandra Simidzija, Mark Jackson-Brown, Geoff Kirk
Overview
The Complete Streets subcommittee met with city staff to review streets scheduled for
Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee
reconstruction in 2023. They have prepared a memo of comments for staff to consider
in the scope of the project.
Expectations of Committee
For discussion. Please review the memo in advance, attached via email. Following
potential amendments to the memo, the committee may move a motion to submit the
memo to staff for their consideration.
4. Iron Horse Trail crossings
From: Darren Kropf, city staff
Overview
The Iron Horse Trail is the city’s busiest trail, with over 250,000 trips a year by
pedestrians and cyclists of all ages and abilities. Guided by the Iron Horse Trail
Improvement Strategy (2015), recent investments in the trail have improved the trail’s
function, safety and comfort, including trail widening, benches, lighting and landscaping.
Continuing with these improvements, city staff is proposing to improve safety and
accessibility at all city-owned trail crossings with the installation of Pedestrian
Crossovers (PXOs), as well as raised crossings or refuge islands.
The following improvements are being proposed at the identified Iron Horse Trail
crossings:
Street crossing Current Proposed improvements
conditions
Union Boulevard Refuge island PXO Type B
Glasgow Street No crossing Raised crossing and PXO Type B
features
Gage Avenue No crossing PXO Type D
features (In scheduled reconstruction, consider
raised crossing)
West Avenue Refuge island PXO Type D
Mill Street No crossing Raised crossing and PXO Type B
features
Madison Avenue No crossing Raised crossing and PXO Type D
features
Kent Avenue No crossing PXO Type D
features (In scheduled reconstruction, consider
raised crossing)
Expectations of Committee
Provide feedback on the proposed street crossings improvements. The committee may
move a motion to express support for the proposed improvements.
Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee
5. Trail construction in 2021
From: Liz Christensen, city staff
Overview
Staff has prepared 90% drawings of existing trails that the City of Kitchener is looking to
upgrade in 2021. Subject to funding approval.
Expectations of Committee
Provide feedback on the proposed improvements.
6. Better Benton
From: Dan Brotherston, committee member
Overview
This is a citizen proposal for improving Benton and Frederick streets. The current
designs are from the 1960s and envisioned a through street which has been long since
cancelled. As a result, the street is enormously overbuilt, and the space should be used
more effectively. This proposal would convert half of the street into a separated
cycletrack. This would complement the downtown grid, shorten pedestrian crossing
distances, and improve access to LRT stations. More information and a petition are
available at betterbenton.netlify.app or
https://www.change.org/p/regional-of-waterloo-chair-karen-redman-a-better-benton-and-
frederick-st/
Expectations of Committee
For discussion and feedback. The committee may choose to move a motion in support
of the proposal.
7. All advisory committee chairs report
From: Matt Rodrigues, committee chair and Vicci Hand, committee vice-chair
Overview
Compass Kitchener hosted a meeting of all City of Kitchener advisory committees to
build on feedback from the previous All Committee Meeting and identify areas of
collaboration regarding Strategic Plan implementation.
Expectations of Committee
For information.
Kitchener Cycling and Trails Advisory Committee
8. 50x30WR report
From: Jorg Broscheck, committee member
Overview
Several committee members attended a meeting on active transportation hosted by
50x30WR. 50x30WR is a grassroots, community-led campaign advocating for Waterloo
Region to commit to a 50% reduction in greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by 2030, in
line with the imperatives of climate science and centering social justice and well-being.
Expectations of Committee
For information.
9. Staff updates
From: Darren Kropf, Liz Christensen, city staff
Overview
City staff will provide updates on a variety of projects underway.
Expectations committee
For information.