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Staff Report
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Report To: General Government Committee
Date of Meeting: November 29, 2021 Report Number: PWD-032-21
Submitted By: Stephen Brake, Director of Public Works
Reviewed By:
File Number:
Andrew C. Allison, CAO
Report Subject: Cost for Snow Clearing on Trails
Recommendations:
Resolution#: GG-518-21
By-law Number:
1. That Report PWD-032-21 and any related communication items, be received;
2. That Council support the on -going clearing of snow from the 7.8 kilometers of
recreational trails that were maintained during the winter of 2020-2021;
3. That Council provide direction to Staff regarding the provision of snow clearing
service on additional sections of Clarington recreational trails; and
4. That all interested parties listed in Report PWD-032-21 and any delegations be
advised of Council's decision.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PWD-032-21
Report Overview
Page 2
The Covid-19 Pandemic has resulted in the increased use of Clarington's Recreational trail
system and a much greater demand by users for the trails to be cleared of snow during the
winter months. This report addresses Council Resolution GG-205-21 that was passed on
February 16, 2021, requesting that Staff report back with costing to clear all 20 kilometers of
trails in Clarington for next year.
1. Background
1.1 At the General Government Committee meeting held on February 16, 2021, Council
passed Resolution GG-205-21. This specific resolution directed Staff to report back
with costing on clearing all 20 kilometers of trails in Clarington for next year.
1.2 During the April 7, 2021 meeting of the Active Transportation and Safe Roads (ATSR)
Committee, members commended the Municipality and Council for maintaining trails
during the winter of 2020-2021. Resulting from the positive feedback that was received
from numerous trail users, the ATSR Committee subsequently passed the following
recommendation:
"That the Municipality permanently undertake winter maintenance and consider
expanding the program to trails located throughout Clarington to allow residents
to take advantage of the trail network year-round."
1.3 Clarington currently has approx. 20 kilometers of recreational trails that are primarily
located in the southern area of Clarington with significant portions forming the
Waterfront Trail system along Lake Ontario. These facilities provide an option for
residents to engage in various active lifestyle activities such as walking, jogging, cycling
and nature walks.
1.4 The recreational trails that were cleared of snow by the Municipality during the winter of
2020-2021 included the following sections:
Municipality of Clarington
Report PWD-032-21
Page 3
Section
Trail Name
From/To
Length
1
Farewell Creek Trail
South from Old Kingston Road
567 meters
2
Bowmanville Valley Trail
Roenigk Drive to Baseline Road
2,224 meters
3
Soper Creek Valley Trail
Soper Creek Park to
Sprucewood Crescent
3,083 meters
4
Newcastle Lions Trail
Sunset Boulevard to King
Avenue West
535 meters
5
Samuel Wilmot Nature
Valley Trail
Cobbledick Road to Toronto
Street
1,370 meters
Total
7,779 meters
2. Analysis
2.1 The Municipality currently provides snow clearing on municipally owned pedestrian
facilities such as sidewalks that front onto parks and open space or on walkways that
lead into parks or connect roadways. Winter maintenance is also provided on some
pathways in parks that connect to schools and serve as a walking route. Recreational
trails, however, have historically not been included in the level of service for winter
maintenance provided by the Municipality.
2.2 Snow clearing services are presently outsourced to a third -party contractor. At the end
of the 2020-2021 winter season the existing contract for snow clearing services
expired. This contract has been recently re -tendered and was awarded by Council to a
new vendor on October 18, 2021.
2.3 Based on the terms of the new contract, it is estimated that the annual cost to provide
snow clearing service on the 7.8 kilometers of trail sections noted above is $58,000.
The specifications of the contract require that the trails are cleared to full width and that
a sand/salt mix is placed after each call -out to serve as a melt agent and an abrasive
for traction.
2.4 Due to the short timeframe that existed between awarding the new contract and the
anticipated on -set of winter conditions, the trail sections identified above have been
included with the level of service required for the winter of 2021-2022, and beyond.
Should Council provide direction, however, that these trail sections are not to be
maintained they can be easily removed from the contract quantities.
2.5 The remaining sections of paved Recreational trails that could be added to the level of
service for winter maintenance include the following:
Municipality of Clarington Page 4
Report PWD-032-21
Section
Trail Name
From/To
Length
6.
Waterfront Trail
Along Lakebreeze Drive
1,647 meters
from Toronto Street
7.
Waterfront Trail
Port of Newcastle Drive to
610 meters
Shipway Avenue
8.
Waterfront Trail
South Service Road to
1,733 meters
Bennett Road
9.
Waterfront Trail
Along Port Darlington
2,000 meters
Road
10.
Waterfront Trail
West Beach Road to Port
500 meters
Darlington Road
11.
Waterfront Trail
West Beach to
1,415 meters
Bowmanville Avenue
12.
Courtice Shores Trail
East from Courtice Shores
1,300 meters
Drive
13.
Bowmanville Valley Trail
Baseline Road to
615 meters
Waterfront Trail
Total
9,820 meters
2.6 The estimated annual cost to provide snow clearing service on the additional 9.8
kilometers of trail noted above is $73,000. Similar to the specifications for the existing
recreation trails being cleared, the contract requires full width snow removal and the
application of a sand/salt mix.
2.7 Based on the above summaries, the annual cost for providing snow clearing along the
entire 17.6 kilometers of Recreational trails would be approximately $131,000. This
amount does not include the cost of any possible upgrades or modifications that may
be necessary to prepare the trail sections including the removal of bollards, etc.
3. Concurrence
This report has been reviewed by the Director of Financial Services/Treasurer.
Municipality of Clarington
Report PWD-032-21
4. Conclusion
Page 5
It is respectfully recommended that Council provide approval for staff to continue
providing snow clearing services on the 7.8 kilometers of recreational trails that were
maintained last winter. Direction is also being requested from Council on the inclusion
of any of the additional sections of recreational trails as outlined above.
Staff Contact: Slav Potrykus, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, 905-623-3379 extension 2315 or
spotrykus@clarington.net.
Attachments:
Attachment 1 — Locations of Trails Included in the Review
Interested Parties:
There are no interested parties to be notified of Council's decision.
Attachment 1 - Location of Trails Included in the Review
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