Active transportation in Wellington County remains a high priority.
On July 18, councillors here gave a quick review to a detailed and lengthy report on the county’s active transportation plan. Planning director Gary Cousins was looking for a response from council by early August.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said, “There are things in the report I am very much in favour of.”
Stokley was involved with the committee discussions, but he wanted to hear from council members. “These are comments coming directly from council to the committee.”
Councillor Jerry Schmidt said the plan is on the right track.
“From my perspective, I totally support the active transportation concept – in the city.”
However, Schmidt had mixed emotions on the application of the concept in rural areas such as Puslinch.
In general, he was supportive, but believed there were items which could be reviewed.
Councillor Ken Roth commented that he’d been unable to preview the report as the document took 15 minutes to open and it seemed to take 10 minutes to turn a page.
“However, I know (Stokley) is on top of this, and I’m in favour of it. I think this is the preliminary round of comments anyway.”
Councillor Susan Fielding said “I’ve had the opportunity to go to a couple of the meetings.”
Unlike Schmidt, Fielding believed it was great to have the plan in a rural area. “We really don’t have any sidewalks or such for people to walk.”
She noted that she was not a big hiker per se, but liked the idea of trails at the community centre. Fielding said she liked all of the ideas cited in the plan.
“I really have nothing negative to say.”
Mayor Dennis Lever said following a previous meeting in Fergus, he had sent a letter to planner Sarah Wilhelm, one of the individuals at the forefront of the project.
Lever had concerns with some of the proposed routes such as Victoria Road between Guelph and Highway 401
“Unless we widen Victoria Road, there is no room to put in extra lanes (for active transportation). There is no room for anyone to walk now. The road is too narrow,” he added.
He said there were concerns on the listing of the recently demolished Stroy’s Bridge.
Lever said he was contacted to see if his previous comments could be used in a grant application to replace Stroy’s bridge (with a pedestrian bridge).
Lever also expressed a concern trying to get people across Highway 6 anywhere other than Morriston or Aberfoyle.He considered that as being dangerous.
Lever said the report seems to be focused on cycling, but walking and jogging are cited as the number one activities.
But there is a crossover as well in the urban/rural mix.Walking and jogging seems to be predominant in the urban areas while there is more cycling in the rural areas.
“I want to make sure we don’t lose the walking component in the rural areas. We’re not just building bike lanes. We are adding active transportation lanes.”
Lever added that as a group, the population is aging. The lanes provide a safe place for the activity where people could be out of traffic.
He also liked the fact that this is being proposed over a 20-year timeframe.
In part, he said, that is because the project has a $24 million cost.
“Even if it is spread over 20 years, it is still a lot of money.”
Lever said the ideas are good, as residents need to be more active.
“This is a step in the right direction.”
After a brief discussion regarding parking near the Fletcher Creek Conservation Area, Lever suggested if areas like this are going to be highlighted, there needs to be talks about providing parking as well.
Stokley said it is an area the committee has been discussing with various conservation authorities and other agencies regarding properties people could potentially make use of.
“Essentially right now, being a rural community with some small hamlets – the focus in Puslinch will probably be about keeping cyclists safe.”
He added that this area is already recognized as being safe through its use by cycling groups from outside Puslinch.
Stokley said this approach could potentially make the area safer.
As to hiking, Stokley said, Puslinch has relatively few hiking trails.
“That is something we are potentially going to work on in the future.”
He realized a lot of the report focus is on cycling, “as a municipality we can focus on the direction we want to. Recreational hiking can be a major focus in some areas.”
As to the use of Victoria Road, Stokley said there is potential to make use of it in terms of recreation for Aberfoyle.
He pointed to a potential highway crossover at McLean Road because there is a road allowance which connects McLean Road from Brock Road to Victoria Road.
“It could be made into a safe route,” he said.
In order for any of this to happen, he said the master plan needs to not only be implemented at the county level, but at the municipal level as well.
He said another important aspect is to ensure the work continues – with a working group comprised of all the municipalities working to help each other and improve their sites.
He added that related citizens groups could look at the issues at a more local level.
Stokley said one thing needed at the county level, is an active transportation coordinator as a champion, “it would allow a lot of things in this report to happen.”
In addition, Stokley said there needs to be a look at whether any of the proposal can be accommodated within municipal maintenance budgets – such a what happens to new roads.
He pointed to Wellington County plans to pave road shoulders – not only to assist with active transportation – but to make the roads last longer.
Stokley also suggested the creation of a seed fund to apply for various projects – “to keep the idea going.”
Lever said if money is going to be spent, “it is going to be at the expense of some other project. There is only so much money and there is only one taxpayer.”
