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HomeMy WebLinkAboutOPD-009-15 C1 r ,�ringtolj Operations Department Report If this information is required in an alternate accessible format, please contact the Municipal Clerk at 905-623-3379 ext. 2102. Report To: General Purpose and Administration Committee Date of Meeting: November 9, 2015 Report Number: OPD-009-15 Resolution:, , �,� - File Number: N/A By-law Number: Report Subject: Winter Maintenance of Trails Recommendations: 1. That Report OPD-009-15 be received for information; 2. That all interested parties listed in Report OPD-009-15 and any delegations be advised of Council's decision. Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-009-15 Page 2 Report Overview The purpose of this report is to provide Council with the necessary information to consider the implementation of a new winter control service level associated with the clearing of primary urban trails within Clarington. 1 . Background 1.1.At their regular meeting held on April 27, 2015, Council approved General Purpose and Administration Committee resolution #C-134-15, that correspondence from Suzanne Barnes, Valleys 2000, with respect to snow removal in the Bowmanville Valley, be referred to staff to prepare a report on the cost of clearing snow on a per metre basis. 1.2.The correspondence from Suzanne Barnes, Valleys 2000, specifically requested that the main trail in the Bowmanville Valley be considered as it is a major link for pedestrians travelling to and from the downtown, and as such becomes compacted into ice/icy snow several inches thick creating a safety concern. 1.3. Further, Valleys 2000 is also a steward of the Soper Creek Valley but at present they are unaware of the winter usage on the Soper Creek Trail. As such, the correspondence from Suzanne Barnes acknowledges that they will investigate and potentially monitor the trail in the winter of 2015/16. 2. Analysis 2.1. It is estimated that there are currently over 21 kilometers of off-road trails within the lakeshore urban area of Clarington. Approximately 15 kilometers of these trails fall under the jurisdiction of the municipality and include the Bowmanville Valley Trail, Samuel Wilmot Nature Area Trail, Soper Creek Trail, sections of the Waterfront Trail and the Courtice Millenium Trail. The remainder of the trails are the responsibility of either Ontario Power Generation or the Regional Municipality of Durham to operate and maintain. 2.2.The Bowmanville Valley Trail presently extends from Baseline Road West to King Street West with a number of side trail connections that link to Spry Avenue, Nelson Street and Rotary Park. The total length of the Bowmanville Valley Trail is approximately 2.2 kilometers. Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-009-15 Page 3 2.3.The Soper Creek Trail runs from Soper Creek Park north to King Street East with connections to the residential areas located on Hobbs Drive, Wilde Court and Hailey Court. The total length of the Soper Creek Trail is approximately 1.1 kilometers. 2.4.Clarington's current policy and level of service on primary urban trails provides for general maintenance activities during the Spring, Summer and Fall seasons. These activities include vegetation cutting and trimming, debris and litter pick-up, inspection of trail surfaces and, as required, the repair of the related infrastructure such as catch basins, culverts, bridge structures, benches, kiosks, etc. During the winter months the trails are left unmaintained unless specific concerns or safety hazards arise that require attention. 2.5.The Municipality of Clarington also provides trail maintenance on a considerable network of secondary trails that are located within community parks. Approximately 3.8 kilometers of these trails are attached to schools thereby forming part of the dedicated walking route to and from school for children. As a result, these neighbourhood park trails are presently cleared of snow during the winter months by a Clarington contractor. 2.6. For comparison purposes, the neighbouring municipalities of Ajax, Whitby and Oshawa each provide winter maintenance services on their respective systems of main urban trails. Each of the municipalities also have an extensive network of secondary trails that are serviced during the winter months to provide safe walking access to and from schools or as a means to encourage active and healthy lifestyles. 2.7.Service levels at the neighbouring municipalities vary widely from standards that require bare pavement to those that provide a ploughed trail surface condition only. Service level conditions that are standardized by each municipality dictate the amount of salt, sand or other chemicals that must be applied to maintain the trail surface. 2.8.The Municipality of Clarington's 2015 Official Plan review document proposes the concept of a walkable community. Chapter 19 - Transportation, Section 19.5.4 (k), of the draft plan specifically recommends that Key Trails be maintained during the winter in order to encourage year-round use. This system of primary urban trails includes, amongst others, the Bowmanville Valley Trail and the Soper Creek Trail. The draft official plan also proposes an extensive expansion to Clarington's trail network into the future. 2.9.Clarington's Draft Transportation Master Plan also references active transportation and the importance of providing residents with the ability to live, walk and find recreation within transit, walking or biking distance. Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-009-15 Page 4 Options 2.10. During the preparation of this report representatives from Valley's 2000 and the Central Lake Ontario Conservation Authority (CLOCA) were consulted to discuss the proposal of providing winter maintenance on trails in further detail. Each agency supported the maintenance of the trail networks during the winter months based on the number of users and the poor conditions that are currently experienced. 2.11. In the interest of concern for the protection of the environment in the creek valleys where the majority of the trails exist, it was acknowledged that if winter service were to be provided on the trails the amount of salt, abrasives, etc. used during the winter months should be kept to a minimum. Initially it is recommended that the trail surfaces only be cleared at a plough float level to improve walkability and as required sanded with abrasive material to improve traction and foot grip where icy or slippery sections are present. 2.12. Due to the amount of handwork that will be required to maintain and keep open the various stairs that are present it is recommended that they be kept closed for the duration of the winter season. 2.13. As a result of the investigation completed by the Operations Department the following options are recommended for consideration by Council: 1. Maintain the Status-Quo Maintain the status—quo by keeping all of the primary urban trails closed during the winter months. The municipality shall ensure that potential users of the trails are properly advised of the level of service provided on the trails through the suitable posting of signs at each entry point to the trail network. 2. Implement a Trial Program Consider the implementation of a new level of winter control service on a trial basis by requesting that staff clear only the Bowmanville Valley Trail. This level of service would require that the segment be added to the municipalities contracted service. Clearing would be provided on the trail surfaces as determined by the Operations Department and would generally follow the same level of service as provided for the sidewalks that are cleared by the municipality. Staff will report back to Council following one full season of clearing operations with a recommendation to either eliminate or expand the service. Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-009-15 Page 5 3. Full Program Implementation Fully support the initiative by requesting that all 15 kilometers of Clarington's existing urban trails be maintained during the winter months. Winter maintenance would be provided on these trails at the same level of service as outlined in the trial program. 3. Financial Implications 3.1.The cost to provide winter maintenance service on the Bowmanville Valley Trail can be estimated using Clarington's existing 2014/2015 vendor rates and the historical average number of contracted call-outs each winter season. Based on a serviceable trail length of 2,227 m the total estimated annual expenditure would be close to $9,000, plus HST. Please note that this amount may be subject to change pending the award of a new winter maintenance tender that recently closed. 3.2. For the context of extending winter maintenance service to all existing off-road main urban trails in the municipality at an estimated length of 14,792 m, the estimated annual expenditure would be approximately $57,245.04, plus HST. Please note that this amount may be subject to change pending the award of a new winter maintenance tender that recently closed. 3.3. It should be noted that the implementation of winter maintenance service will also require that the trail sections be patrolled at least two times per day, seven days a week, to properly document surface conditions and, as necessary, initiate service. The inspection and documentation process over a full winter season will result in a considerable draw on existing staff resources and will probably need to be contracted out. The estimated cost to patrol just the Bowmanville Valley Trail, based on contracted staff time and fleet charges will be approximately $10,000 each winter. 4. Concurrence 4.1 This report has been reviewed by Nancy Taylor, Director of Finance who concurs with the information provided. 5. Conclusion 5.1. It is respectfully recommended that Council receive for information the various main urban trail maintenance options and costs as outlined in this report. Should Council decide to implement any option other than the status-quo scenario the start date is recommended to officially commence at the beginning of the 2016/2017 winter Municipality of Clarington Report OPD-009-15 Page 6 season and that the necessary additional funds be included in the 2016 current budget. 6. Strategic Plan Application 6.1. Clarington's 2015-2018 Strategic Plan outlines specific priorities and new actions that are intended to achieve the critical organizational goals of the Corporation. The request of Valleys 2000 and the information provided in this report closely align with the basis of Priority 4 of the Strategic Plan, Enable Safe, Efficient Traffic Flow and Active Transportation and Priority 6, Enhance Access to our Unique Natural Environment. Submitted b - Reviewed b : ` Y Y tFrederick J. Horvath, Franklin Wu B.A., R.D.M.R., R.R.F.A. Chief Administrative Officer Director of Operations Staff Contact: Stephen Brake, Manager of Operations, 905-263-2291 ext. 541 or SBrake@clarington.net The following is a list of the interested parties to be notified of Council's decision: Suzanne Barnes, Valley's 2000 FH/sb