Thank you for the…

Thank you for the opportunity to comment on the MTO Draft Province-wide Cycling Network which is identified as a goal of the #CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy (ERB 013-0190).

The intent of the aforementioned Environmental Registry posting is to;
•Identify the routes recommended in the draft province-wide cycling network; and,
•Request public input to guide the identification of the final province -wide cycling network.

The City of Brampton’s Strategic Plan, Official Plan, and Transportation Master Plan all support an increased focus on active transportation (e.g., cycling, walking) as a way to address current and long-term transportation network capacity challenges, health and environmental concerns, and the development of sustainable and “complete” communities. The City has also initiated an Active Transportation Master Plan study to develop an implementation strategy for short and long-term actions that will achieve a comprehensive cycling network, and support Brampton’s recent designation as a “Bicycle Friendly Community”.

The City of Brampton has reviewed the MTO’s Draft Province-wide Cycling Network and commends the Province for identifying a network of routes that will:
•Promote recreational cycling and cycling tourism;
•Connect municipal cycling routes and places of interest;
•Identify areas of provincial infrastructure that should accommodate cycling; and,
•Prioritize future cycling infrastructure investments on provincial highways.

We are supportive of the proposed program and provide the following comments for your consideration with respect to the draft province-wide cycling network as it relates to the active transportation network in Brampton. The Etobicoke Creek Trail

The City of Brampton provided input through the network identification study (questionnaire and mapping tool) and participated in the Regional Workshop # 5. Throughout the process, the City has recommended the inclusion of the Etobicoke Creek Trail as a primary route within the province-wide cycling network.

The Etobicoke Creek Trail extends approximately 34.5 kilometres through Mississauga and Brampton. The trail runs along the Etobicoke Mimico Watershed and travels through both natural and urban settings. In Brampton, the trail meanders through the City’s downtown core, providing access to a wide range of cultural and seasonal activities. A farmer’s market is held in the downtown every Saturday morning from Spring to Fall. The Rose Theatre and Gage Park (voted to be one of the top five parks within the GTA) are also both easily accessible from the trail.

Through Mississauga there are a series of parks adjacent to the trails including Willowcreek Park, Forest Glen Park Fleetwood Park, Garnetwood Park and Wood Creek Park. Each of these parks provides a unique mix of amenities and facilities.

The Province is providing $325,000 to Brampton through the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program, to construct approximately 2 km of multi-use path that will connect a missing link along the Etobicoke Creek Trail between Brampton and Mississauga under Hwy 410 and 407 ETR. The planned connection of the Brampton and Mississauga portions of the trail will attract cyclists to expand their Etobicoke Creek Trail experience to include inter-municipal travel and explore the unique benefits offered by both the Mississauga and Brampton portions of the trail. In addition to this connection, work is underway as part of the Downtown Etobicoke Creek Revitalization to integrate the trail with Brampton's culturally significant and historic downtown. Brampton has also recently partnered with Caledon to fill the trail gap at Brampton's northern border. Together with the trail connection at the Brampton/Mississauga boundary, this work will support the first two aforementioned objectives of the province-wide network (promote recreational cycling/tourism and connect municipal routes) by connecting the Waterfront Regeneration Trust's Lake Ontario, Waterfront Trail to the GTHA Greenbelt Route.

Again, the City of Brampton strongly recommends that the Etobicoke Creek Trail be considered as a primary route within the province-wide cycling network.

Tottenham to Etobicoke, North Shore Lake Ontario, via Hammertown - We support the proposed network route through the Claireville Conservation Area (in east Brampton), as the Claireville Conservation Area provides a key gateway to the City of Brampton from the neighbouring cities of Mississauga, Toronto and Vaughan, and provides linkages within Brampton to other trail systems. In addition, the conservation area has been identified as a potential staging area within the City’s active transportation network, providing parking and public transit for trail users and amenities, such as water fountains, washrooms and benches. The planned portion of the trail extension through the conservation area north of Queen Street East is currently subject to a permit review (since 2011) by the Ministry of Natural Resources due to the environmental sensitivity of the area. With the identification of this section of the route within the province-wide network, we look to the MTO for assistance in working with the MNR to expedite approval for the proposed trail alignment.

The draft province-wide network is currently proposing that this route follow McVean Drive (north of Casltemore Road) then follow Countryside Drive to Highway 50 along Brampton’s east border. Included within the preliminary block planning for Brampton’s Secondary Plan Area 47 is a potential alternative to the on-road portion of this route, as a multi-use recreational trail is planned along the Humber West River tributary providing a connection into the Town of Caledon.

Inglis Falls to Belfountain via Orangeville - Included with the province-wide cycling network is a route extending along an abandoned rail line from Owen Sound to Dundalk. The portion of the abandoned rail line through Grey County is identified as a rail trail on its cycling map (from Dundalk to Owen Sound). From Dundalk to Orangeville, Dufferin County has identified the implementation of a rail trail along of its section of the abandoned rail line as a short term priority in its 2010 Active Transportation Master Plan. South of the abandoned portion of the rail line, there is an active freight line that extends south from Orangeville, through Brampton ending in Streetsville (Mississauga). As a part of the province-wide network review, we ask that the MTO explore the opportunity presented by this existing rail line. From the terminus point of the exiting rail line in Streetsville, the existing and proposed extension of the Cullham Trail (in Mississauga) can further provide a connection to the Waterfront Trail, thus providing a continuous active transportation facility extending from Georgian Bay (Owen Sound) to Lake Ontario (Mississauga).

Highway 407 Transitway - The Hwy 407 Transitway presents an ideal opportunity to implement a continuous and generally uninterrupted cycling facility in a protected right of way that can enhance regional connectivity and improve active transportation access to commute destinations (including connections to intersecting north-south cycling infrastructure/routes, and to transit stations. As a part of the 407 Transitway Environmental Assessment that is currently underway, it is important that a cycling facility be considered as a part of the design in parallel with the transitway alignment.

Thank you for considering our comments and we look forward to working with the province to develop the final recommended province-wide cycling network.

[Original Comment ID: 209460]