Bike lanes on Provost Lane entertained at council meeting – but no serious plans made

ELORA – Centre Wellington council learned there isn’t much in savings between having a separated bike lane on St. David Street North in Fergus and having a separated bike lane on Provost Lane.

Councillor Stephen Kitras had asked staff for high-level costing of installing bike lanes on Provost Lane after council approved installing bike lanes on St. David St. N. earlier in the summer and rejected a motion to reconsider that decision this fall.

Manager of engineering Adam Gilmore told council on Nov. 29 that staff did a traffic count on Provost Lane over two days in October and found about 350 cars travelled that road in a day.

He also said that to install bike lanes would require the road to become a one-way street.

His cost estimates were:

  • about $5,680 for painted lanes; and
  • about $38,700 for separated lanes and signage.

This is in line with the cost of separated bike lanes on St. David Street, Gilmore said, adding the $4 million cost of the St. David Street project is mostly the cost of replacing aged infrastructure and then resurfacing the road.

Gilmore noted in his report that Provost Lane only goes as far north as Garafraxa Street, while the St. David Street project would take a cyclist all the way to Walmart.

He also noted that Provost Lane has a steeper pitch, at 8.5 per cent, than St. David Street at 4.3%.

Staff uses the Ministry of Transportation’s cycling manual as a guide and it states that a 7.5% slope is too difficult for most cyclists.

Kitras said the grade of a hill is one factor; the length of the hill is another to consider, and St. David Street has a longer hill, making it more difficult for cyclists to navigate than the shorter hill on Provost Lane, he argued.

CAO Andy Goldie pointed out the county has an active transportation master plan and the township has a trails and cycling master plan.

Councillor Ian MacRae said the township needs an active transportation advisory committee so it can move ahead in providing cycling infrastructure as it improves roads.

Later in the meeting MacRae presented a notice of motion on that topic.

“We need a central cycling spine in the township,” he said.

“All forms of transportation are equal, and we need more consultation with the public.”

The report was for information only.

No bike lanes are being contemplated on Provost Lane at this time and the separated bike lanes will be installed on St. David Street North.