Community Services Department City Hall 50 Dickson Street, P.O. Box 669 Cambridge ON N1R 5W8 Tel: 519-740-4681 July 20, 2010 To: Re: Those with Interest in the City of Cambridge Trail System City of Cambridge Council Approval City of Cambridge Trails Master Plan June 2010 The City of Cambridge review and update of its Council approved 1996 Cambridge City-Wide Multi-Use Trail Study was completed by MHBC Planning Ltd., and MTE Ltd., from March to June of 2010, under direction of a Council/Staff/Cambridge Trails Advisory Committee Steering Committee. The review and update resulted in the City of Cambridge 2010 Trails Master Plan which was reviewed by the City s Master Plan for Leisure and Recreational Services Steering Committee, prior to consideration by Cambridge City Council. On Monday July 5, 2010 the General Committee of Council received and approved the June 2010 Trails Master Plan as follows; which was subsequently approved by Council on Monday July 12, 2010. COMMUNITY SERVICES DEPARTMENT 1. CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TRAILS MASTER PLAN Moved by Councillor Tucci Seconded by Mayor Craig THAT Council receive the City of Cambridge Trails Master Plan as outlined in Report CSD/10-56, as information. AND THAT Council direct staff to review the recommendations and present priorities and timelines for the implementation of the trails master plan on an ongoing basis commencing with the 2011 Cambridge Trails Advisory Committee planning process. CARRIED DIRECTION: Staff for the Cambridge Trails Master Plan was directed to include a recommendation that future plan updates include consultation with the Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee and that a map depicting the Environmentally Sensitive Areas be included as an appendix to the Plan.
CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY... i-iv 1.0 INTRODUCTION... 1 1.1 Purpose of the Trails Master Plan... 1 1.2 Goals of Tralis Master Plan... 1 1.3 Purpose and Process of the Trails Master Plan Study... 3 2.0 BACKGROUND... 4 2.1 1996 City of Cambridge City-Wide Multi-Use Trail Study... 4 2.2 Bikeway Network Master Plan... 5 2.3 Official Plan... 5 2.4 Inventory of Existing Conditions... 6 3.0 MULTI-USE TRAIL NETWORK ANALYSIS... 7 3.1Are the Existing Multi-Use Trail Study Principles Sound?... 7 3.2 Non-Motorized Use... 8 3.3 Contraints and Opportunities... 8 3.4 Community Input... 10 3.5 Recommendations... 10 4.0 PROPOSED TRAIL NETWORK AND PRIORITIES... 12 4.1 Analysis of Trails Network and Priorities... 12 4.2 Findings of the Trails Network Analysis... 12 4.3 Multi-Use Trail Network... 14 4.4 Short Term Priority (0-5 Years)... 15 4.5 Medium Term Priority (5-10 Years)... 16 4.6 Long Term Piroirty (More than 10 Years)... 17 5.0 MULTI-USE TRAIL DESIGN GUIDELINES... 18 5.1 Accessibility... 18 5.2 Trail Width... 19
5.3 Trail Surface... 20 5.4 Trail Grades... 21 5.5 Signs and Wayfinding... 21 6.0 TRAIL MAINTENANCE... 25 6.1 Operational Maintenance... 26 6.2 Capital Infrastructure Maintenance... 26 6.3 Trails Redevelopment... 27 6.4 Safety... 27 7.0 COMMUNITCATION AND PROMOTION OF TRAILS... 31 8.0 CAMBRIDGE TRAILS ADVISORY COMMITTEE (CTAC)... 33 MAPS 1.0 EXISTING TRAILS NETWORK... After Section 8.0 2.0 MAJOR CONSTRAINTS & BARRIERS... After Section 8.0 3.0 DESTINATIONS AND OPPORTUNITIES... After Section 8.0 4.0 RECOMMENDED TRAIL NETWORK... After Section8.0 5.0 SIGNIFICANT NATURAL AREAS...After Section 8.0 APPENDICES 1.0 TRAIL DESIGN GUIDELINES... Tab 1 2.0 SURVEY RESULTS SUMMARY... Tab 2
Purpose of the Trails Master Plan
Goals of the Trails Master Plan Sustainable Community Involvement Accessible Connected Safe
Summary of Recommendations
SHORT TERM (0 TO 5 YEARS) MEDIUM TERM (5 TO 10 YEARS) LONG TERM (BEYOND 10 YEARS)
Purpose of the Trails Master Plan Goals of the Trails Master Plan Sustainable Community Involvement Accessible Connected Safe
Purpose and Process of the Trails Master Plan Study Background Research and Identification of Existing Conditions Analysis and Plan Development Plan Finalization and Detailed Implementation
1996 City of Cambridge City-Wide Multi-Use Trail Study
Bikeway Network Master Plan Official Plan
Inventory of Existing Conditions
Are the Existing Multi-Use Trail Study Principles Sound?
Non-Motorized Use Constraints and Opportunities
Community Input 4% 7% 1% 12% 37% 39% Cycling Walking Jogging Rollerblading Cross country skiing Other Recommendations
Analysis of Trails Network and Priorities Findings of the Trail Network Analysis
Multi-Use Trail Network
Short Term Priority (0-5 years)
Medium Term Priority (5-10 years)
Long Term Priority (More than 10 years)
5.0 MULTI-USE TRAIL DESIGN GUIDELINES The purpose of this section is to review the existing trail design guidelines and provide recommendations for updates or changes. The analysis of the trail design guidelines included: review of the existing trail design guidelines contained in the City-Wide Multi-Use Trail Study (1996); review of accessibility guidelines and legislation; analysis of the community input received, including input from the Cambridge Trails Advisory Committee, the Cambridge Environmental Advisory Committee, and the Accessibility Advisory Committee; and review of trail design standards used by other municipalities. The City-Wide Multi-Use Trail Study (1996) provides guidelines to address a number of trail design issues including trail types, signs and trail markings, grading, trailhead design and access points, and road and rail crossings and others. The 1996 City-Wide Multi-Use Trail Study also included guidelines for on-road cycling facilities. However, since on-road cycling routes and design guidelines are now addressed in the City s Bikeway Network Master Plan, on-road cycling design guidelines are not included in the Trails Master Plan. In general, the existing trail design standards in the 1996 City-Wide Multi-Use Trail Study are consistent with best practices. Review of the existing trail design guidelines indicates that most of the guidelines are still relevant and are consistent with current standards. Therefore, many of the existing trail design guidelines have been carried forward and are included in this report. Key issues that were identified during the trail design guideline review process are discussed below. Complete Trail Design Guidelines are included as Appendix 1. 5.1 Accessibility A key part of the review of the trail design guidelines was the assessment of accessibility standards and what changes are required to the existing guidelines. The analysis consisted of: review of the City s current accessibility standards and guidelines; City of Cambridge P a g e 18 Trails Master Plan June 23, 2010
Trail Width
Trail Surface
Trail Grades Signs and Wayfinding
Are the trails adequately maintained? 9% 40% 51% Well maintained Adequately maintained Poorly maintained
Operational Maintenance Capital Infrastructure Maintenance
Trail Redevelopment Safety
46% 54% Yes
APPENDIX 1
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TRAILS MASTER PLAN Trail Clearance Width And Trail Maintenance Areas Will Be Required To Be Wider At All Intersections, Sharp Turns, And Other Areas Requiring Clear Sight Lines. City of Cambridge JUNE 2010 Trail Master Plan
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TRAILS MASTER PLAN City of Cambridge JUNE 2010 Trail Master Plan
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TRAILS MASTER PLAN City of Cambridge JUNE 2010 Trail Master Plan
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE TRAILS MASTER PLAN City of Cambridge JUNE 2010 Trail Master Plan
APPENDIX 2
City of Cambridge City-Wide Multi-Use Trails Study Update Summary of Survey Results: Based on 68 completed surveys Q1. How often do you use the trails in Cambridge? Answer Options Response (%) Regularly (a few times a week) 59.7 Occasionally (a few times a month) 29.9 Seldom (a few times a year) 10.4 Never 0.0 Q2. When you use the trails what type(s) of activity do you do? Check all that apply Answer Options Response (%) Cycling 75.0 Walking (including wheelchair or other mobility device) 77.9 Jogging 25.0 Rollerblading 7.4 Cross country skiing 13.2 Other 2.9 Q3. Rank the trail surface that you prefer in order of preference with 1 being the most preferred: Answer Options 1 2 3 4 Rating Average Beaten earth or woodchip narrow hiking trail 22 18 12 3 1.93 Stone dust (compacted fine gravel screenings) 22 25 8 4 1.90 Asphalt 21 13 20 4 2.12 Other 0 0 3 9 3.75 Q4. What class or distance of trail do you use most often or prefer to use? Check all which apply and rank in order of preference with 1 being highest use /most preferred: Rating Answer Options 1 2 3 4 Average Neighbourhood trail loop/link (generally under 1km in length) 11 10 13 19 2.75 Longer community trails linking several neighbourhoods (1-5km in length) 22 19 18 0 1.93 City wide trails (i.e. riverbank and main tributary trails) (over 5km in length) 33 16 9 1 1.63 Intercity Trails (trails that connect to other adjacent Cities or towns) 14 9 8 16 2.55 Q5. Why do you or members of your household typically use trails? Answer Options Response (%) For relaxation, enjoying nature, 73.5 Walking the dog 25.0 Exercise 85.3 To access neighbourhood schools, parks or recreation facilities 29.4 To commute to shopping or employment areas 27.9 Other 7.4
Q6. What changes or improvements to the trail system would encourage you to use the trail system more often? Better Links: Preston to Galt; Linear trail to Riverside Park; Crossing over the 401; Better signs: At trail links; directions to next off road section of trail; More trails closer to where I live More off-road trails/bike lanes: CanAmera Boulevard trail More asphalt trails: to allow rollerblading; Other: More garbage cans; lease free trail(s); more information on trails Q7. Where would you like to see new trails or new trail connections? List your top three. A trail connecting Linear trail to Galt (via a bridge or along the east side of the river) Better connection of Riverside park entrance to Linear trail and to Blair/TransCanada trail Extend Devil s Creek trail south North-South route from Hespeler over the 401 Q8. Are the trails and trail infrastructure (such as trail surfaces, bridges, signs etc.) adequately maintained? Answer Options Response (%) Well maintained 40.0 Adequately maintained 50.8 Poorly maintained 9.2 Q9. Do you think that there is sufficient trails system information available to the public? Answer Options Response (%) Yes 52.3 No 44.6 Q10. What is the best way to provide information to the public on trails (e.g on the City s website, newspaper advertisements, radio advertisements, an annual or bi-annual public trail user meeting forum/workshop, provision of more trailhead signs at key locations along trails) Website (30) Newspaper (24) Trailhead signs (29) Radio (9) Annual Event (16) Other (7): Phonebook, Flyers, Circulate through the schools; Q11. OTHER COMMENTS: (please provide other comments, ideas or suggestions to the Questions. A sample: Keep up the good work; Cambridge trails are great!; Tour-de-Cambridge, it's worth the drive to Cambridge;
Clean the bike lanes; All motorized vehicles (gas or battery powered) should not be allowed on the trails; Install curb cuts where trails intersect with roads. Road bikes are not meant to hop curbs - e.g. Greenway park trail at Glamis Road. Patrol the trails with those Community Bike Patrol Auxiliary Officers I feel unsafe by myself on the trails. Cambridge has a great trail system, it just isn't well known.