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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-03-02Clarington Meeting: Active Transportation and Safe Roads Advisory Committee Date: February 3, 2022 Time: 7:00 pm Location: Microsoft Teams Meeting Minutes Draft minutes not yet approved by Committee Present: Rick Stockman, Jim Boate, Bart Hawkins Kreps, Phil Haylock, Connor Houston, Bruce MacDonald (guest presenter), Arnold Mostert, Richard Oldfield, Jeanne Winters, Councillor Janice Jones, Councillor Joe Neal Regrets: Connie Kobelka Staff Present: Rob Brezina, Andrew Johnson, Catherine Verhoog 1. Agenda Moved to approve by Bart, seconded by Jeanne Carried 2. Minutes of October 21, 2021 Moved to approve by Arnold, seconded by Jim Carried 3. Presentations 3.1. Bruce MacDonald — Bike Friendly Application Bruce is a member of the Durham Region Cycling Commission and Whitby Active Transportation Safe Roads Committee. In 2016 he was involved with an application by Whitby to the Share the Road Cycling Coalition for bike friendly status and they were successful in achieving a bronze designation. Bruce reviewed the twelve -page application submitted by Whitby with the committee and explained the significant parts to pay attention to. Approximately 95% of the form is completed by municipal staff, and the committee would review the application, and other cyclists would be able to sign up as reviewers as well. Bruce introduced the Strava Global Heatmap which is a worldwide interactive map used by Share the Road to evaluate applications. The map shows routes that cyclists and others have reported as using and tracks them. He believes that Clarington is close to bronze, but at the very least a solid honourable mention. Speak to experienced cyclists and ask for their opinions. All networks and support systems are included in the assessment including trails, on -road, commuter routes, transit systems that allow bikes on them, bicycle storage locations etc. 4. Discussion Items 4.1. Bike Friendly Community Application Update — Jim/Connor Connor explained that it is a collaborative application between the committee and Clarington, and Region of Durham amenities such as the DRT being bicycle friendly can be included. The application deadline is the Fall of 2022. Jim expressed the need for buy -in from municipal staff, and the need to work with one member of staff to help identify things like signs and education that need to be spruced up. Andrew will speak to senior management to confirm who will be the committee's staff liaison for this project. Need staff liaison to assist. Andrew to confirm who. Janice — collaboration with tourism/corporate communications/Planning. Motion required from the committee to Council to get the Municipality on board? Andrew would run the request past senior management to see how they would like to proceed. Rick — email to Andrew summarizing what committee has discussed and where they would like to go with it, or a whereas motion — Rick to send email to Andrew. Connor and Jim to draft email. Members in favour of continuing with initiative and continuing with email. Janice — timeline for moving forward, when is deadline for application — Connor - fall of 2022, twice a year application. Whereas the Municipality of Clarington created the Active Transportation and Safe Roads Advisory Committee in 2018; and Whereas a key mandate of the committee is to prompt active transportation including cycling; and Whereas the committee are investigating the feasibility of applying for a Bike Friendly Community designation for the Municipality of Clarington; and Whereas the Bike Friendly Community application process involves an audit of municipal infrastructure supporting cycling; E The committee recommends to Council their endorsement to proceed with the application for Bike Friendly Community status with the help of municipal staff, and that any costs associated with the application be borne by the Municipality. Moved by Jim, seconded by Jeanne. Motion carried. 4.2. Trail Signage Update & Budget — Jim/Bart Jim to follow up with Slav in Operations regarding the report that the committee submitted last year about requested safety, etiquette and wayfinding signs for the trails and if there is a budget for those to be completed. Rob suggested that committee members travel all of the major trails and make a map of what signs they would like where to help assist Operations. Signs would include those imposing speed limits at the busier sections of the trail, directional signage as to where paths lead, walk on the right and pass on the left, blind corner etc. 4.3. Document Sharing and Collaboration in MS Teams Follow Up — Andrew Andrew to circulate an offline response to committee members. 4.4. 2022 Cycling Month Events Subcommittee Update — Connor Subcommittee has met twice since the last meeting. The Region of Durham has offered to provide coordination and support to the municipalities for Bike Month. There is a brainstorming session being held next week where more information will be provided on what will be offered and how the municipalities can collaborate and partner together. Bart has updated the handout already and has reached out to Tourism for their assistance. Other members are approaching groups in the area to gauge their interest in participating, but firm plans cannot be made at this time due to the unknown of what Covid restrictions will be in place in June. 4.5. Bike Racks — Connor Additional bike racks have been located throughout the municipality that the committee was unaware of, and the Clarington Board of Trade has expressed their support in helping promote bike racks with the downtown businesses. Rob provided an update on the Great Lake to Greenbelt Bike Rack Installation project initiative. They are currently looking for recommendations for a couple of locations where bike racks could be installed. The group will fund the racks and they are asking the municipality to fund the installation component and for downtown businesses to assist with possibly having the racks located on their property due to property constraints in the downtown cores. Committee members are to email Rob with any location suggestions as soon as possible, especially ones with pavers that could make the install easier. 4.6. West Beach Road Safety Concerns — Jim Rob to follow up with Slav on whether or not the white lines delineating the bike friendly section on West Beach Road have been installed, as well as signs indicating the bike crossing. 4.7. Durham Region Active Transportation Update — Connie Postponed to next meeting due to Connie's absence. 4.8. Winter Maintenance Bowmanville Trail Extension Motion Update — Staff The stretch from Cobbledick Road over to Toronto Street has been cleared, but the Bowmanville trail extension from Baseline Road to the parking lot is to be costed for the next winter season. 4.9. Multi -Use Path Hwy 2 — Maple Grove to Roenigk — Richard A good east -west connection through Bowmanville between Bowmanville Avenue and Maple Grove Road along Highway 2 is needed. There are issues with spatial constraints due to property ownership and the area needed for sidewalks, illumination, fire hydrants, utility locations etc. Development of the corridor is still ongoing, and improvements can be made within the undeveloped sections, but utility relocation and commercial property acquisition within the built -out area is extremely expensive. The urban boundary terminates at Boswell Drive and allocation of tax levy funds as well as justification to implement multi -use paths west of Boswell Drive would be needed. 5. Other Business 5.1. 2022 Construction Forecast Update — Rob B All projects are pending budget approval in order to proceed. The first project is the Toyota Trail extension from Haines Street to Soper Creek Trail. The contractor started construction in December with completion hopefully at the end of the summer. The design is being finalized and they are getting ready to go to tender for enhancements to the Lions Trail from King Avenue (Highway 2) to the existing fully paved pedestrian trail. Construction is scheduled to start in the Spring and conclude by September and will include a paved asphalt trail, M erosion remediation, relocation of the trail farther from the creek, and a pedestrian crossover at Edward Street. Jim asked Rob to follow up with the Region on the possibility of a pedestrian crossing at King Avenue (Highway 2) to provide access to the newly installed path on the north side. Phase 3 of the Soper Creek Trail is currently under budget consideration for 2022. If approved, the design and public information process would proceed towards the end of the summer A road diet is proposed on King Street East from Liberty Street to just west of Haines Street to accommodate cycling facilities. It will be a shared facility from Liberty Street to Frank Street, and then open up to a continuous two- lane section with a dedicated cycling lane from Frank Street until just west of Haines where the current four lane roadway ends. In 2024 the Region is considering construction of an improvement project on Liberty Street from Highway 2 to Baseline Road for a dedicated left-hand turn lane. The Municipality is requesting that an Multi -Use Path (MUP) be implemented at the same time wherever spatially feasible. West of Liberty will be looked at for an MUP when future pavement improvement is scheduled. Several members expressed concern with the safety of cyclists at the intersection of Highway 2 and Mearns Avenue, and a crossing on the east side of the intersection was suggested. Rob will bring their comments to the attention of the Region's designer for the intersection. He also indicated that a permanent solution will be looked at when the old Bowmanville Zoo lands are developed. Connor mentioned that there was a notice that a new secondary plan is being created in the area of Concession Road 3 and Mearns Avenue and asked if there was any further information on the incorporation of active transportation in the plan. Rob stated that all secondary plans are to include active transportation considerations, but he will reach out to Planning for the members to see if there is any information that he can relay to the Committee by email. Rick asked Rob to provide an update on the acquisition of lands at the old training school, and what active transportation plans are proposed, at the next meeting. Darlington Boulevard in Courtice is currently going through the design process for road rehabilitation which will target building an MUP type facility or dedicated cycling lanes. The public information centre should be held this spring and it will provide more detail. The Farewell Creek Trail is still currently under construction as it was delayed due to contractor having difficulties with ril getting an approved bridge design. They are hoping to resume in the spring with completion hopefully in July after paving. The Region is looking at reconstructing Liberty Street from Longworth Avenue onwards to Concession Road 3 and including an MUP facility on the west boulevard. This would allow the continuation of existing facilities on Longworth and Concession Road 3. This work will probably go to tender later in the year. In 2022 the Region is constructing a trunk sanitary sewer extension from Basel ine/Courtice Road east to Trulls and north on Trulls to Bloor. The Municipality is taking the opportunity to do an urbanization of Baseline Road in the industrial area in conjunction with the Region's project because of the GO Station planned in the area. This will include dedicated cycling facilities. The Region is completing a major reconstruction of the intersection of Bowmanville Avenue and Highway 2 from Stevens Road to the CPR bridge, and the east and west legs of Highway 2. The Municipality is taking this opportunity to construct an MUP facility from Bowmanville Avenue to Roenigk Drive to connect to the Bowmanville Valley Trail. The Region will also be construction an MUP from Highway 2 to Stevens Road in the west boulevard. This is the first part of the three phase project which will see the widening of Bowmanville Avenue to four lanes down to Baseline Road and an MUP extension will be built down to Baseline Road which will provide connectivity to the Bowmanville Creek Trail and Waterfront Trail. Phase three, in 2027 or 2028, will see a continuation of the same four lane section with an MUP from Stevens all the way up to Longworth Avenue. 6. Next Meeting 6.1. The next regular meeting is to be determined. 7. Adjournment 7.1. Moved by Jim Boate seconded by Arnold Mostert. That the meeting adjourned at 9:05 PM Carried I: