Background. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations - 1-

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2 Table of Contents Background Our Vision Benefits Marconi Line Project Recommendations Project Description Summary Detailed Project Description The Site User Groups Route Design Major Intersections Access Point and Connectivity Signage and Safety Amenities Maintenance Cost Considerations Summary Appendix A: Marconi - Downtown Connection.... Appendix B: Bird s Hill Park Acknowledgements

3 Background At it s meeting held on Sept. 27, 2006, Council approved the acquisition of 50.4 acres of C.P.R. Marconi Rail Right of Way between Gateway Road and Raleigh Street. Council also approved the development of a pathway on this property with construction to commence no later than the spring of 2008 and the matter be referred to the 2007 Capital Budget. This right-of-way is identified in the TransPlan 2010 report as a future consideration for transit. Furthermore, this report also recommends that properties such as this be protected for busways and/ or rail transit corridors. Plan Winnipeg 2020 Vision identifies this for a major street widening - and - a public transit roadway in a dedicated right-of-way all for consideration beyond On October 27, 2004 Council approved in principle the Civic Environment Committee report titled Sustainable Winnipeg: a Comprehensive Environmental Strategy. Two policy objectives in the report are as follows: The City of Winnipeg will work with citizens, local NGOs, the business community, and other levels of government to increase the degree of participation in active transportation through the expansion and implementation of facilities and infrastructure and towards the development of a comprehensive active transportation strategy for Winnipeg and The City of Winnipeg will strive to create a safe and extensive network of trails and greenways that link sites of ecological, historical, and cultural importance. Trails and greenways will be promoted to improve the connectivity between neighbourhoods. Active commuters, tourists, and citizens engaged in recreation, will use these trails. Therefore consistency in the trail network will be created and maintained. Plan Winnipeg 2020 Vision in dealing with Integrating Transportation states: establishing a city-wide bicycle and pedestrian pathway system which is segregated where practical and feasible from motorized traffic and which creates links between open spaces and major destinations. The River East Multi-use Trail Committee, which is coordinating other trail projects in the community, started work on this project at once. The Trail Committee is a sub-committee of the River East Neighbourhood Network (RENN). The River East Neighbourhood Network is a non-profit, legally incorporated entity comprised of a network of residents, businesses and agencies working together to enhance the lives of residents of the River East community by linking community stakeholders within the community. Public consultations were held to obtain input from user groups, city officials and community members. We have gathered and synthesized the knowledge, expertise and ideas of those present at the meetings and intend, with this report, to make a valuable contribution to the planning process. The report outlines the benefits of this project to our citizens and contains a description of pathway design requirements for establishing a cost estimate for budget & construction purposes. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations - 1-

4 Our Vision The opportunity that this right-of-way provides must not be wasted. Today, we must recognize the need to adapt to a world that is becoming very different from what it once was. We have to identify very different challenges and plan to meet these challenges. In this regard, we are very pleased that Council has recognized pathway / trail development on this property as being a priority. A community amenity such as this will have a positive impact on community health and well being and will encourage people to participate in regular physical activity such as walking, cycling and running. We recognize that this development will become the backbone of the trail system in our community by connecting the Trans Canada Trail with other trails in our community and by being accessible to/from other community activity nodes such as work, play, and learning. In the long run, we will work to ensure that it connects to trails from the Forks to Birds Hill Park and Harbourview / Kilcona Park. As we drive on the road to the future, we are literally running out of gas. Alternative modes of transportation and multi use trail development are very important infrastructure components. Furthermore, healthy communities don t just happen. We are very excited about this project and the chance it provides for community organizations, user groups, city officials and Council to work together to develop a multi-use, showpiece development of which we can all be proud. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -2-

5 Benefits The following are the important benefits of this project. This multi-use trail: Will increase the physical activity and therefore the long-term health of residents by walking, running, cycling, and roller-blading. Moreover, it will have wheelchair, stroller, and bike-trailer access. Will improve community and resident connections by linking various parks, schools, community centers, churches, and businesses. Will appeal to a large cross-section of populations and socio-economic backgrounds from Elmwood to East St. Paul; it unites us all! Will have potential for enhanced community partnership and ownership with the added benefit of safety and security. Greater usage of this non-motorized-transportation corridor will encourage safety in numbers. Will add convenience for those already commuting to work in non-motorized vehicles. Will provide improved safety for cyclists. More folks may choose to leave motorized vehicles at home which will decrease the traffic, exhaust pollution, and wear and tear on our streets. Will have potential for increased tourism and business activity so Winnipeg is seen as having a clean and green approach to environmental preservation. This tourist attraction will be a key line of connectivity linking the Forks, downtown, and other areas of the city. Other cities (Montréal, Ottawa, Minneapolis) have extensive trail systems enabling tourists to explore in a fun and effective way. Will appeal to ecologically-minded young citizens who will be attracted to live and stay in Winnipeg. The multi-generations will create vibrancy within the city, while preserving the health and wellness of our population. Will increase property value in the immediate area. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations - 3-

6 Marconi Line Project Recommendations Project Description Summary The Marconi Line Project presents the City of Winnipeg with an opportunity to connect all existing trails in the River East & Elmwood communities. The River East Trail Committee realizes that, once-built, this 7Km+ trail addition will become the backbone for all future trail development in our area. We also see the Marconi Line Project as a precedent-setting benchmark for subsequent trail development throughout the city. We feel that the establishment of a well-designed, well-funded trail in this key location will have ramifications that go far beyond the direct benefits incurred by the area s residents. As such, the fulfillment of the Marconi Line Project is a critical step in the future development of a comprehensive trail network for River East and the rest of Winnipeg and will be a showcase for our city s level of ingenuity and commitment to the environment. Detailed Project Description - The Site - The location and shape of the land in question give the Marconi Line characteristics which require special consideration. Relatively unique among Winnipeg s trails, it will be basically linear, it will not flood in the spring, it will run for a long distance (from the Perimeter to the edge of downtown) and it will connect hundreds of attractive destinations. As a result, it stands to be heavily used as a traveling route (as opposed to pure recreation) and will be especially valuable to young or inexperienced users who will see the Marconi Line as a safe, pleasant and legal alternative to the street or sidewalk. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -4-

7 -User Groups- Community consultation has identified two main groups whose needs differ and who stand to make this trail one of the most heavily used in the city. They are: 1. Pedestrians and joggers, who enjoy the calm and simplicity of traveling on foot. These users have a particular interest in the establishment of a more interesting (i.e. meandering) route and in improvements such as landscaping, sunshades, water fountains, benches, public art and historical plaques. 2. Relatively fast moving commuters and recreational users who would like to see the route streamlined as much as possible to reflect the benefits of their chosen form of transportation. These users require a smooth, well-maintained traveling surface and include mainly cyclists but also those on rollerblades, on skateboards and in wheelchairs. -Route Design- Due to the land s shape, proximity to traffic on both sides and to certain topographic features like ditches and wetlands, this project favours a trail that, for the most part, runs in the centre along the old rail line. There are a few areas that offer the space necessary for more deviation. In order to reflect the obvious features of the landscape and to address everyone s needs, RENN s trail committee recommends: - Installing one wide, direct, paved mainline running along the compacted bed of the former rail line, with off-shoots at popular, high-traffic access points ( Elmwood High School, Andersen Park Soccer Complex, Palliser Furniture, Civic Park, Bunn s Creek, Douglas Ave, etc.. (see Access Points and Connectivity) ). -That this mainline be complimented, where possible, by short pedestrian branches made of a suitable lowercost surface material such as bark-chips or limestone. The lower cost would allow for more design leeway; it s meandering structure will create a more interesting, natural-looking path that integrates seamlessly with the landscape. We suggest that these short paths will be most effective if they exist in order to provide approaches to riparian areas, point of interest markers and benches. (To comply with accessibility standards and ensure that this infrastructure is available to everybody, access to some essential amenties will necessarily be paved.) The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -5-

8 Community consultation revealed that the width of the paved trail should ideally be 12. The width is crucial in order to be able to handle the expected user volume, 1 as there will be cyclists traveling in both directions who will be coming upon pedestrians and families with strollers, etc.. The surface type, asphalt, is necessary in order to make usage practical during inclement weather. Limestone is muddy and messy in the rain, and makes winter plowing much less effective/sustainable. Again, RENN-TC believes that this unprecedented public works project has the opportunity to set a precedent for the future and thereby improve the lives of all of Winnipeg s residents. We believe that a high quality surface type will ensure a high degree of usage. A high quality trail, experiencing a high degree of usage will be an advertisement for further development throughout the city. -Major Intersections- The new Marconi Pathway will be particularly special among Winnipeg s trails because of its highly visible location between two major streets. This creates unique challenges, but also offers unique opportunities. For example, if the route is properly designed to expedite the travel of cyclists, those drivers who are traveling parallel will note the amount of progress they are making, will note how fast it is and may soon begin to realize cycling s potential as a fun, healthy and safe alternative. From a usability standpoint, the most important features of the final design will be the major intersections and the many access points along the trail. At major intersections (Munroe, Springfield, etc ) improvements will have to be made to ensure safety and to ensure that users can quickly continue on their way. Cyclists are concerned about what they see as the likelihood that planners will route the path to the edges in order to make crossings near the lights at major intersections. This will slow cycling traffic down considerably, creating a less pleasant and efficient experience, especially considering Marconi s potential as a commuter cycling route. We believe that it is possible to find a solution where cyclists do not necessarily have to detour/dismount at major intersections, while still ensuring adequate flow of vehicle traffic. There are numerous examples from other cities where designers have accomplished this without unduly inconveniencing motorists. Some residents have noted that there is already a high potential for 1 The width of 12 was arrived at in consultation with the Winnipeg Trails Association, and draws on their experience working on similar projects. An example was given of the new Cloutier drive trail, a 9 wide recent addition to the trail system that is now experiencing heavier than expected usage. In Janice Lukes (Winnipeg Trails Coordinator WTA) view, the 9 width is not adequate to accommodate the heavy use it is now seeing. RENN-Trail committee recognizes that the Marconi Line trail will experience a much higher degree of usage, due to its location and convenience and that a 12 wide path would be best in order to accommodate two cyclists traveling in opposite directions and pedestrians/strollers/rollerbladers. WTA and RENN-TC are convinced that it is worth the added expense the easier and safer it is to use, the more people will use it. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -6-

9 accidents in the space between Raleigh and Gateway at major intersections. This problem is created by motorists attempting to squeeze into the available space in order to avoid risking a wait at two lights. If this is indeed the case, this problem will definitely need to be addressed with the advent of increased pedestrian/cyclist path crossings. Note that, currently, there are no North/South crossings on either the east side of Raleigh or the west side of Gateway (the location of the new path). Since some form of improvements are necessary, now is a good time to think creatively. A seemingly plausible solution is to reduce speed limits at the approaches to the pathway and post signs indicating the presence of a high volume crossing (similar to a school zone). This would greatly increase the safety of motorists, cyclists and pedestrians, with little impediment to vehicle movement. It would also allow trail users to proceed when they judge it to be safe rather than waiting to be instructed. This is especially pertinent during low-traffic volume situations, as they are prone to judge the safety and proceed regardless of signage. We are not qualified to outline and undertand all of the intricacies of this situation. However, we feel that residents and user groups have legitimate concerns and refreshing ideas. We want to ensure that the knowledge and experience of city engineers be used to their utmost to find a solution which takes these concerns and ideas seriously. - Access Points and Connectivity- It will be crucial to anticipate common points of access to ensure that people will know how to get to the trail safely and easily. Therefore, some careful thought should be given to improving certain east-west crossings on Raleigh and Gateway. For a transportation route of this type, the access points are less obvious than on an average road project. Pedestrians and cyclists are more likely to use informal trails and low volume streets coming from schools, community centres, shopping centres etc... Pedestrians and, especially, novice cyclists are not nearly as keen on using the existing major streets and are therefore less willing to join the trail at only those points. Note that people traveling on foot/bicycle are very likely to make their own way to the trail if it is inconvenient to use designated crossings. We should therefore anticipate and accommodate likely patterns of usage rather than trying to outright regulate them. In practice, this will mean a number of new crosswalks where the most direct/safe route from a common destination to the trail crosses either Raleigh or Gateway. We have prepared some diagrams that give an idea of the connectivity that can be expected. (Note that the beginning and end of the trail are also access points. Please see Appendix A - The Downtown- Marconi Connection and Appendix B - Bird s Hill Park.) The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -7-

10 The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -8-

11 The Marconi Line (South) connections for determining access points The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -9-

12 The Marconi Line (North) connections for determining access points The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -10-

13 -Signage and Safety- Well-placed signage is not just a safety issue. By pointing out connections of which people may not be aware, signs can also be a way of popularizing the trail system. We recommend informational signs, posted at reasonable intervals, which indicate the route layout and location of amenities and popular destinations. As other connections are made (i.e. to downtown, to Bird s Hill Park) we recommend the installment of large scale route maps, showing the routes available throughout the city. The pathway experience will also benefit from signs, in the form of Point of Interest markers, which illuminate historical events, places and people pertinent to the area. We also feel that painted lines/symbols on the trail surface itself are wise, in order to indicate and delineate the movement of fast-moving bicycles. -Amenities- While there do exist some areas of interest along the proposed route, and these should be highlighted, a sizeable portion of the route would benefit greatly from some landscaping improvements and should include: - Shelter from the sun and wind, in the form of pavilions, windrows of fast-growing trees - Benches and picnic tables, as well as public water fountains (such as those that exist along Wellington Crescent and the Assiniboine Park trail system) should be installed for comfort and rest. -Community gardens: gardening is Canada s number one hobby, and is especially popular in River East due to its high concentration of senior citizens. We believe that the creation of partnerships between the City of Winnipeg and interested groups in the area could create a valuable opportunity for those who would like to capitalize on underutilized portions of the route (especially in areas that are slated to become part of a future rapid transit development and for which permanent landscaping is therefore unwise). -Landscaping (Note: We believe that any landscaping should be done with respect to the local ecology and should encourage rather than discourage habitat creation for our native plant and animal species.) The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -11-

14 -Maintenance- Cycling and walking, as forms of transportation, leave a relatively light footprint. This is reflected in the maintenance costs of the infrastructure they use. The more people are encouraged to use the Marconi trail as transportation the less are the expenses in road maintenance incurred by the City. That being said, a certain level of trail maintenance should be factored into the project budget to ensure that, for example, the route is plowed regularly to allow maximum use throughout the year. We are a winter city. Any plans we make should reflect our pride in not only being able to cope with the cold, but in being able to revel in it. Plowing would be limited to the asphalt-surfaced trail. - Cost Considerations - Community consultation also revealed strong opinions held by local residents regarding how this development should be funded: A lot of Manitobans are uncomfortable with the concept of using private funds to pay for public roads, highways and bridges. Since a comprehensive, well-maintained network of roads and highways is necessary for the economic growth, well-being and prosperity of everyone, they feel that it is the government s responsibility to use public funds to develop and maintain that network. Public consultation revealed that cycling/pedestrian trails should be treated with the same, if not higher, level of priority as on-road infrastructure. The benefits of a high quality motorized transportation network (such as added economic growth, connectivity, ease of transportation) are also seen in pedestrian/cycling infrastructure. Furthermore, the latter is sustainable, healthy, tourist-friendly, interesting and fun. There are many who see the Marconi Line trail as a long overdue and necessary infrastructure improvement for those who place a priority on environmentally sustainable transportation. Many feel that developments such as Marconi are precedent setting. Therefore, if the City of Winnipeg is to send a message that it supports ecologically sustainable route building it must be equally as supportive, not only in its policies and objectives, but also by providing adequate funds in its budgets. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -12-

15 Summary We recommend: Installing a wide, paved mainline capable of handling high-volumes of traffic and capable of accomodating users travelling at different speeds. Including many access points (including mid-block access points at residential streets) which allow users to connect as directly as possible to popular destinations. Intense scrutiny of major intersections to find a solution to facilitate the efficient passage of bicycles in the interest of creating a viable bicycle commuter route. Using signage for safety and to provide useful information to users (maps, points of interest). Installment of amenties such as benches and the usage of landscaping to enhance the pathway experience. Planting trees, erecting pavillions to provide shelter from the wind and sun. Setting aside the necessary funds to cover the cost of plowing in the winter. Improving the connection to downtown at the south end of the pathway. As soon as possible, continuing the route north to Bird s Hill Park. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -13-

16 Appendix A: Downtown - Marconi Connection The Marconi trail stands to provide many additional benefits to our community if improvements are made in its ability to connect to downtown. (see figure 1) Downtown represents many things. It represents opportunities for leisure as well as work. For a youngster wanting to visit the skatepark or an adult working in a downtown office, this is particularly important. Access to downtown also means access to extended trails systems like the Riverwalk and the new Winsmart trail. At some point in the near future, we foresee University of Manitoba students living in the Northeast being able to make a min. commute by bicycle. For the most part, the infrastructure is in place. Once one reaches the intersection of Mission and Archibald, there is a safe and pleasant route along low-volume residential streets parallel to Whittier Park all the way to Esplanade Riel and beyond. As it stands, anyone wishing to continue on southeast from the end of Marconi faces a circuitous and dangerous route. (see figure 2) CP Rail has been approached regarding the use of a small section of additional property in order to make a convenient connection. They have agreed to look at the proposal once plans for the purchase of the Marconi line have been finalized and funding for the pathway is in place. We urge planners and lawmakers to plan on improving this small section to coincide with the opening of the new Marconi trail. fig.1. A possible alternative. fig.2. Current best route continuation (inset with photos taken along route) The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -14-

17 Appendix B: Bird s Hill Park The Marconi Line stands to make a very significant impact on tourism in the city and the health of its residents if it forms part of an uniterrupted cycling route from downtown to Bird s Hill Park. Cyclists currently enjoy using the many cycling trails that exist there, but unfortunately, unless they are willing to tackle the highway, they often arrive there by motorized vehicle with their bicycles in tow. We find this situation ironic and recognize in it an enormous opportunity to bring reknown to our city. We feel that a connection to Bird s Hill Park will also significantly increase ridership on the trail, and also bring economic benefits to merchants in our area. The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -15-

18 Acknowledgements Photos Courtesy: Text by: Don English and Bike to the Future Janice Lukes and the Winnipeg Trails Association Manitoba Conservation website River East Neighbourhood Network - Trail Committee Marconi Greenway sign design by: Rachael Alpern and Anders Swanson Layout, maps and design by: Aerial Photos provided by: The Marconi Line Project - Community Vision and Design Recommendations -16-