EBR Registry Number: 013…

EBR Registry Number: 013-0190 Title: Identifying a Province-wide Cycling Network Ministry: Ministry of Transportation Date Proposal loaded to the Registry: May 8, 2017 Deadline for Comment: May 26, 2017

Comments from Ottawa Cycling and Active Transportation Alliance (OVCATA) c/o Ish Theilheimer, co-chair - email ish@isht.ca 581B Eady Rd., RR 1 Golden Lake, ON K0J 1X0 OVCATA is a not for profit group of cyclists and active transportation enthusiasts with a 200 plus membership from Renfrew County and the Ottawa Valley. Véloroute Voyageur/ Voyageur Cycling Route OVCATA is in a collaborative agreement with Discovery Routes who is the coordinating agency for the Véloroute Voyageur/ Voyageur Cycling Route. Currently in the implementation stage is the 380km route between Sudbury and Deep River with sectional launch throughout 2017 – 2018. An expansion of the cycling route through Renfrew and Lanark Counties to Ottawa has begun adding approximately 250km to the Voyageur Cycling Route. Voyageur Cycling Route Mattawa to Arnprior -Expansion of the Voyageur Cycling Route from Mattawa to Ottawa is underway. Through the Township of Papineau-Cameron, Renfrew County and Lanark County, a detailed route analysis will be undertaken in 2017 to investigate route conditions, recommend cycling facility improvements and prepare an implementation strategy. Conceptually, the route follows the Highway 17 corridor avoiding the highway itself whenever feasible. The route illustrated on the EBR posting as “proposed on-road” between Mattawa and Arnprior is consistent with the preferred routing for the Voyageur Cycling Route. An analysis on the proposed connecting off-road route will be undertaken as part of the planning process. It is anticipated that this will align the Voyageur Cycling Route along a combination of both on and off-road cycling facilities.

-OVCATA suggests consideration for the addition of an MTO Cycle spine route on Highway 41 from Dacre to Pembroke.

-The proposed MTO spine route traverses through the heart of City of Pembroke. Consideration for an alternate MTO Cycle route is suggested by OVCATA on the off-road Algonquin Trail thus connecting Pembroke Street West to Highway 148 (and Route Verte) then onward to Greenwood Road (Renfrew County Rd 40).

-Consideration for an alternate MTO Cycle spine route following Beachburg Rd 21 from Greenwood Rd 40 to the Village of Beachburg then following Beachburg Rd 21 to Foresters Falls Rd 7 then onto Queens Line Rd 4 is suggested by OVCATA. -OVCATA and previous Active Transportation groups have worked with the County of Renfrew towards hardened or paved shoulders following the proposed MTO spine route on County Roads infrastructure from Petawawa to Arnprior. The County has been successful in constructing hardened or paved shoulders on some sections of these County Roads. -OVCATA suggests that MTO consider, where appropriate, locating provincial cycle routes on roads with lower traffic volume under the management of upper- and lower-tier municipalities instead of on Provincial highways. -Consideration for a Provincial funding program to assist the Municipalities in upper and lower tier municipalities is also suggested by OVCATA in this regard.

[Original Comment ID: 209262]