Minutes - Network Planning & Facilities Sub-Committee - September 1, 1999

ATTENDEES:

Ed Clark Regrets: Terry Walsh

Stephen Fisher

Ron Hart

Nina Koskenoja (minutes)

Clay McFayden (chair)

Crawford Murphy

Janette Porter

Hamish Wilson

Staff: David Dunn - Transportation Services

1. Rail-Hydro Corridor Working Group - Ed Clark

Cyclists position on the Rail-Hydro Corridor:

- this project was originated by cyclists, for cyclists

- the cycling committee got funding through the Toronto atmospheric fund for a study

- the planning subcommittee lead the project, with some of its members,Parks staff, and Planning staff forming a steering committee.

- the Cycling Committee was kept informed and approved of the project

- Mayor Hall publicly announced the project

It was hoped that a large scale study of all possible areas (currentlyuntapped) might yield a large connected network of cycling routes.

Victor Ford and Associates were hired as consultants, their job was to do a complete inventory of all possible rail and Hydro corridors. A large number of possible routes were identified and catalogued.

It was thought that a large amount of railway lands might be readily available, they were not. The interest in Hydro corridors grew during the study. They appeared to offer some excellent potential - road crossings would prove to be the challenge here.

CURRENT ACTIVITIES WITH REGARD TO THE PROJECT

At this time a follow up study is underway (again Victor Ford is the consultant), this time Parks is the client and the cyclists are not in the drivers seat as we once were on this project. This study is a pre-engineering feasibility study of the areas that we have identified as top priorities.

Parks has asked for some money to begin work on a section of the Finch Corridor. There is currently no guarantee that Parks will get funded for this work, or, that Parks will continue with this project beyond year 2000.

The initial study was funded by the Atmospheric Fund because we said large networks will encourage cycling - and offer an alternative to driving thus clearing the air a bit. Reforestation of abandoned lands is also part of the project.

Parks are in the recreation business not the transportation business, cyclists are very interested in the transportation quality of these routes so it is importatnt for cyclists to have input.

Our vision was, and remains, that we want; a large, connected, network of "bikeroads" which are truly useful for cycling. These bikeways would also serve a huge number of recreational/health users too: peds, bladers and cyclists.

THE BIG PICTURE

Hopefully, a large scale project such as the one we have envisaged will be built - in our lifetime. It is hoped that commitments can be made to the project such that all identified lands can be protected prior to the trails being built. The land available for these projects does not increase - it decreases - as demands from other uses grow. Corridors are only useful if they are intact. The real issues are - who is going to do what and when - and who is going to take charge of getting a commitment to the project as a whole.

2. Master Plan Study - David Dunn

- Marshall Macklin and Monaghan were hired in August 99 and the survey should be completed in Spring 2000 to study an expanded cycling network plan.

Two surveys will be carried out: 1) basic demographics, basic cycle usage,

2) which routes cyclists use, attitudes.

The work plan is not finalized. There will be a kick-off meeting on September 14. There will be no TCC rep at the meeting. TCC input into Master Plan: workshop, cycling tours to look at facilities scheduled Oct-Nov 99. Budget is approximately $200,000.

Any suggestions for areas of interest should be sent to Norma Moores, Stantech engineer.

Bike Lanes

30 km of bike lanes are going to be implemented next year. Do not send bike lane suggestions to David Dunn; send to David Richardson.

3. Sub-Committee Voting and Membership Rules

It was decided that members who have voting rights should be:

1. TCC members;

2. Those who have attended 2 of the last 4 meetings,

3. Those who are members of an active working group, and who have attended during the last 12 months,

4. Those who have attended half of the meeting during the last 12 months.

Terry Walsh and John Consolati should be added to the membership of this sub-committee.

4. Wilmington/Willowdale Bike Lanes

From North York Cycling Committee - Councillors and local residents support bike lanes.

The Network Planning & Facilities Subcommittee, at its meeting of September

1, 1999, unanimously supported and recommended to the Toronto Cycling

Committee:

i) the installation of bike lanes on Willowdale Avenue from Sheppard

Avenue to Steeles Avenue and along the entire length of Wilmington Avenue

in North York;

ii) the connecting street of Faywood Avenue be signed as a bike-friendly

route;

iii) 125 post and ring racks to be installed on North York streets.

5. Focusing on Suburbs instead of "old" City of Toronto

There were concerns about losing commitment to the large number of cyclists in downtown Toronto. Quality should be kept, let alone improvements. The downtown is more suited to cycling because of its compact urban form than the suburbs. Worried about losing good access to the waterfront.