May 26, 2017…

May 26, 2017

Sent via email

Monica Russell
Senior Policy Analyst
Policy and Planning Division
Transportation Planning Branch
Environmental Policy Office (Toronto)
777 Bay Street Suite 3000
Toronto Ontario
M7A 2J8

Re: City of Guelph comments on the proposed Province-wide Cycling Network (EBR #013-0190)

Dear Ms Russell,

On behalf of the City of Guelph, this letter addresses the stated objectives of the call for comments on the province-wide cycling network to: 1.Confirm the accuracy of the existing / proposed trails; and 2.Comment on the condition and relevance of the proposed trails/connections. Accuracy of existing/proposed routes through the City of Guelph The on-road segments (thick pink line) along Speedvale Ave East are not accurate: there is currently no on-street cycling infrastructure for this short connection. There will be bicycle lanes included on the Speedvale Bridge reconstruction scheduled for 2018 in future. Please show this as a proposed connection. There are also no on-road cycling facilities on Woodlawn Road W between the Woodlawn Road Cemetery and Nicklin Road at this time. Please show the segment from Nicklin Road to the Woodlawn Cemetery (off-road trail) connection as “proposed”. Both of the above-noted segments are identified in either the 2013 Guelph Cycling Master Plan or the forthcoming Guelph Active Transportation Network Study (July 2017) as proposed connections designed to accommodate people bicycling. The railway corridor north of Woodlawn Road extending from Edinburgh Road North is under private ownership. The surface of this connection is not suitable for cycling as there are large rail-grade rocks and there is considerable vegetation encroaching in the right-of-way. If this route remains in the final Ontario-wide cy cling network, please show this as “proposed”. Other individuals and groups with interests outside City boundaries including the Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation, Guelph Wellington Waterloo Regional Trail Committee and Guelph Off-Road Bicycling Association have recommendations for an alternative connection to the Kissing Bridge Trail that uses the Grand River Conservation Authority’s “Marden Tract” trail. These groups also recommend paved shoulders on Silvercreek Parkway North of Woodlawn Road. Please note that the City of Guelph has constructed a 3.0 meter multi-use path on both sides of Woodlawn Road West (Hwy 7 connecting link) between Nicklin Road and Silvercreek Parkway that would serve to connect the Guelph routes and trails to the Kissing Bridge trail. Relevance of proposed trails/connections The current proposed route uses existing on-road cycling facilities along Gordon Street/Norfolk Street and Arkell Road in Guelph. The existing on-road bike lanes on Arkell Road are in good condition and meet Ontario Traffic Manual Book 18 guidelines (1.5-meter wide bike lanes on each side). The existing on-road bike lanes along Gordon Street from Arkell Road to Stone Road are in good condition and meet Ontario Traffic Manual Book 18 guidelines as well. The on-road bike lanes along Gordon Street between Stone Road and Waterloo Avenue are in reasonable condition (signed, visible lane markings), but do not meet the minimum guidelines for bike lane width: the lanes vary in width from 1.0 meters to 1.5 meters. These deficiencies are being addressed as opportunities for reconstruction, repainting or resurfacing of the roadway arise. City of Guelph staff assumes based on knowledge of cyclist preferences and attitudes that most cyclists would prefer an off-road or low-volume route wherever possible. As such, we recommend that cyclists turn west on College Avenue and follow the signed route indicated in Figure 1, below. The route continues across the Covered Bridge, and up along the Wellington Street East trail that becomes our Trans Canada Trail connection north through downtown and along the Speed River shown in Figure 2. The City of Guelph also supports a stronger connection between Kitchener and Guelph. This is echoed in the submission(s) from the cycling groups mentioned above. There are a number of attractions, destinations, and places of employment shared between these two communities that are accessible by bicycle within a reasonable commute time (approximately 1 hour by bicycle from Silvercreek Parkway / Woodlawn Road West in Guelph to Victoria Street North at Weber Street Kitchener). Investment in safe cycling routes can support more trips by bicycle for tourism/cultural trips, work-based trips and recreation. With the new Highway 7 expressway under construction, there will be additional capacity within the existing Victoria Street/Highway 7/Woodlawn Road West right-of-way to provide safe, protected cycling infrastructure on a direct route between these communities. The City of Guelph is grateful for the opportunity to provide comment on the Province-wide cycling network and look forward to future opportunities to support this important initiative to making Ontario more bicycle-friendly.

Sincerely,

Jennifer Juste
Program Manager, Transportation Demand Management
Transportation Services – Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise
City of Guelph
519-822-1260 extension 2791
jennifer.juste@guelph.ca guelph.ca @cityofguelph Facebook.com/cityofguelph C Mayor Cam Guthrie and Council, Scott Stewart, Kealy Dedman, Allister McIlveen, Cathy Kennedy

Figure 1, Alternative low-volume route to avoid Gordon Street Figure 2, Alternative off-road route around Downtown Guelph

(To be included in email)

[Original Comment ID: 209447]