Town to consider ‘trails’ in official plan review

FORT FRANCES—While a trail system is not going to become a reality overnight, the town will consider a recently-completed active transportation plan when it conducts a review of its official plan later this year.
Heather Cram, with consultants Hilderman Thomas Frank and Cram, made a presentation to council Monday night on the final draft of the study, which was conducted last year.

Active transportation is any human-powered transportation—such as cycling, walking, jogging, in-line skating, or cross-country skiing—“that builds healthy, active communities and increases quality of life,” explained Cram, adding it also “helps protect, enhance, and restore the environment.”
In her presentation, Cram said the consulting firm has looked at what is needed to develop a plan for a trail system throughout the community, as well as linkages between the waterfront and the community’s north- and west-end residential areas.
This would include:
•on-road bike paths (wide, dedicated lanes for cyclists to ride alongside motor vehicle traffic);
•off-road paths for cycling, walking, and in-line skating wide enough for two-way traffic;
•linkages (i.e., curb extensions to reduce crossing distances, full curb extensions at corners to improve visibility, and direct routes from starting points to destinations);
•clearly-marked and safe crosswalks;
•safe and secure places to park bikes at destinations;
•signage (i.e., on route signage, road markings, and trail and route maps); and
•education (bicycle and small wheel safety courses, road sharing information, and promotion of health, wellness, and the environmental benefits of active transportation).
Consultants found the town “well-positioned” for an active transportation plan, said Cram, with beneficial features like:
•roads wide enough to be reconfigured to add dedicated bike lanes;
•an excellent off-road dedicated path along the waterfront and Eighth Street trails;
•roads wide enough to reconfigured for linkages, and to incorporate road markings and route signs;
•crossings in place along Scott Street;
•public amenities and destination points to accommodate bike storage; and
•a total of 7.5 percent of the population already bikes or walks to work, and established cycling, running, and other sports groups.
One problem identified, however, was a lack of safe rail crossings, said Cram, noting the town should engage CN about providing more dedicated areas where pedestrians, cyclists, etc. can safely cross the tracks.
When asked by Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown about funding for such a crossing, however, Cram said she wasn’t aware of any grants that would cover such a project, and that the town should negotiate with CN.
“Pressure has to be put on them,” she noted. “I think CN has to be made responsible for safety. People are crossing there.”
Cram stressed developing a trail system—and a community that will use it—takes time.
While an active transportation plan ideally would improve the health of Fort Frances residents, increase quality of life, enhance the tourism experience, and achieve other environmental and socio-economic benefits, Cram said this concept has to be sold to the public, business community, and local government.
She stressed education is key. For example, those riding bikes in traffic have to be skilled and confident enough to ride alongside motor vehicles.
In another example, both cyclists and motorists have to be able to understand any new signage and know what it means to share the road with each other.
The same goes for joggers, in-line skaters, and cyclists sharing the same multi-user pathway.
When it comes to marketing, people have to be made aware of where the trails and paths are, how to use them, and why they might want to, especially for those who aren’t already physically active.
Suggested education, marketing, and funding steps include:
•safe cycling and small wheel education programs;
•having town staff and volunteers build their active transportation knowledge by taking part in conferences;
•promoting health and wellness benefits;
•emphasizing the “fun” and “family” elements;
•priorizing facility and program implementation;
•linking active transportation components into other projects when possible;
•encouraging businesses to get involved by giving staff an incentive for using means other than a motor vehicle to get to work, providing bike storage for employees, etc.;
•launching a local fundraising campaign;
•applying for government funding; and
•earmarking active transportation funds in the town’s capital and operating budgets.
The town also must integrate active transportation into all its planning, as well as initiate a formal review of the zoning bylaws to ensure they coincide with active transportation development, said Cram.
“I think that it would be a real asset to the community, and look forward to taking it on to the next phases,” said Mayor Roy Avis.
The idea of a town trail network stems back to 2004, when the local recreation advisory committee sent out a survey to residents asking them what they thought the town needed in terms of recreation options and improvements.
The number-one priority identified was to develop a trail strategy, and a Trail Network Steering Committee was formed.
Then a public meeting regarding a trail system was held back in June, 2006, at which time residents were asked for input as to what they would want to see in a trail network within Fort Frances.
In November, 2006, council accepted a proposal for an active transportation plan from consultants Hilderman, Thomas, Frank and Cram.
Then an open house for the draft study was held last October, at which time public input was gathered. A final version of the report was submitted to council in December.
Since then, the Trail Network Steering Committee has recommended the active transportation plan be included in the town’s review of its official plan this year, and also that an action committee be formed to start implementing some of the suggestions and recommendations made in the report.
The cost of the study ($20,000) was covered mainly by a “Communities in Action” grant for $16,000 the town has received from the Ministry of Health Promotion.
The $4,000 balance was paid out of town reserves.
(Fort Frances Times)