Headwaters Trails Stakeholder Session

SUMMARY NOTES

November 13th, 2010

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Introduction

On November 13th, 2010 more than thirty participants from across the Headwaters Region and beyond met to review and reflect on progress in developing area trails and cycling lanes and to learn more about the recently approved Dufferin Trails and Active Transportation Plan.

The event hosts were representatives of Headwaters Communities in Action (HCIA). HCIA is a grassroots citizen group that fosters community leadership and action in support of a long-term vision of well-being for the Headwaters region.Our definition of well-being encompasses five pillars of a healthy community: Healthy People; Dynamic Economy; Sustainable Environment; Vibrant Culture; and, Engaged Citizens.Our approach emphasizes collaboration – bringing people together from different sectors across our region to work together on shared community issues.

The event’s keynote speaker was Patrick Connor, the Executive Director of the Ontario Trails Council. He shared with us lessons from other areas in Ontario regarding the successful implementation of master plans and how we might work, individually and collectively, to support continued trail development throughout the region and beyond.

Revisiting the 5 Priorities for Headwaters -- October 2007 to Nov 2010

In 2006, HCIA released its Community Action Plan for Social Prosperity. This report – which was based the considerable consultation with area residents – outlined six projects that citizens identified as being needed to improve the quality-of-life throughout the region. At that time, improving area trails was identified as the top priority.

The vision was to work together to create an interconnected system of trails throughout the Headwaters….linking communities and ultimately ensuring that trails and cycling lanes become an essential part of the infrastructure of our communities.

In October 2007, HCIA Trails Working Group held a meeting of area trails enthusiasts who ultimately reached consensus on five priorities to establish a strong interconnected trails & cycling system throughout the Headwaters. Since that initial 2007 meeting, there has been considerable positive momentum in efforts to strengthen the trail system throughout the Headwaters.

Participants at the November 13th, 2010 event reviewed progress on each of thefive trails priorities from 2007; identified key ingredients of success; and, outlinednext steps regarding each priority. Highlights from these presentations are summarized below:

Priority #1 & #2:Complete Island Lake Trail and Link Orangeville to Island Lake

Highlights of progress:

  • Two additional segments of the Island Lake trail have been completed since 2007 – including the remainder of the north-shore trail and the trail that ends at the 4th Line in Orangeville (near Home Hardware)

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  • Work with Ministry of Transportation to complete a safe crossing at 4th Avenue from Orangeville into Island Lake has been completed and its official opening will occur soon.
  • A parking lot has also been added at the Hockley Road entrance (near Mono Amaranth school)
  • Now all by 600 metres of the 12 km Island Lake Trail loop are done.

Insights and Key Ingredients of Success:

  • Trail counters on the Island Lake Trail show that it is currently averaging 70 people per day on weekends and 35 people per day during the week.
  • Commitment and dedication of the Friends of Island Lake volunteer group
  • The response of the community, service clubs and local municipalities to creative fundraising opportunities such as the annual Bass tournament and the “trail tolls” for users.

Next Steps:

  • Completing the final 600 metre “raised boardwalks” to connect the north and south shore trails and complete the loop. Scheduled for the winter of 2011.
  • Possibility of adding a second linkage into Orangeville
  • Thanks to a donation of land by the Orangeville Agricultural Society, the possibility to link the Island Lake trail to the Bruce Trail is now being investigated.

Priority #3:Cycling Lanes on County Roads

Highlights of progress:

  • Research by Trevor Lewis, Dufferin’s Director of Public Works, helped build the initial rationale for establishing cycling lanes on County roads when it was determined that the additional cost of widening road shoulders by 0.75 metres (estimated to cost an additional $150,000/km) would be cost effective because the wider shoulders would significantly extend the road’s lifespan.
  • The HCIA Trails Working Group then worked with the Public Works Director and local cycling enthusiasts on a plan for adding cycling lanes on County roads. Specifically we:
  • Identified principles to guide the selection of appropriate routes
  • Identified and prioritized routes currently being used by area cyclists
  • Matched up the key routes with the County’s road resurfacing budget/schedule
  • Wide shoulders for cyclists now exist in Dufferin County, Orangeville & Caledon
  • This work re: cycling lane priorities was incorporated into the Dufferin Trails & Active Transportation Planning Process – which began in 08 and was approved by County Council in October 2010

Key Ingredients of Success and/or Learnings:

  • Having elected officials and Dufferin’s Director of Public Works – Trevor Lewis -- as a champion for trails and cycling in the Headwaters has been a real asset to this process.
  • The economic analysis by Public Works Director which demonstrated that wider shoulders would be cost effective in extending the life span of the roads was instrumental in gaining Dufferin County Council’s support for the idea of cycling lanes…even amongst politicians who ARE NOT cyclists
  • Working with local cycling enthusiasts to identify priority routes and criteria for selecting them.
  • Taking a pragmatic approach – not trying to have a cycling lane of every County Road – but identifying “key routes” and advocating for lanes on them and then linking these priority routes with the County rehabilitation/resurfacing schedule
  • Incorporating this specific work into a broader, more formalized Active Transportation Plan

Next Steps:

  • Following the work in Caledon, Peel and outside the Headwaters to ensure linkages between neighbouring communities
  • Ensuring allocations of Public Works budget for 2010-2011 for DCATT are secured
  • Support to MPP Norm Miller’s Private Member’s Bill 100 to add 1 metre cycling/pedestrian lanes on Ontario’s secondary highways (including Hwy 10 & Hwy 9)
  • Exploring the possibility of CANBIKE – safe riding workshops throughout the region

Priority #4:Link Island Lake to the Caledon Trailway

Highlights of progress:

  • Trail links are well developed between Inglewood and Trailway and currently exist -- with opportunities for improvement -- between the Trailway and Forks of the Credit Provincial Park.
  • There is a need to establish both cycling and hiking trails between Forks of the Credit Provincial Park and Island Lake.
  • Research was done in the early 2000s to examine proposed options for a route but were limited by the steep terrain and private land ownership
  • Credit Valley Conservation has secured a fair bit of land within the “Upper Credit area” which creates more opportunities to establish trail linkages between Orangeville and Caledon
  • The Town of Caledon has just released a draft of their updated Trails Master Plan. They are welcoming feedback and hope to bring it to Caledon Council for adoption in the spring of 2011.

Key Ingredients of Success and/or Learnings:

  • Over the past several years, the Town of Caledon has worked in collaboration with the CVCA in land securement efforts. They have also committed $500 million towards land securement ($250 million from a tax levy and $250 million from the town’s water and sewer budget)
  • Town of Caledon is hoping to raise its land securement budget to $750 million.
  • CVCA’s success in land its ability to secure land within particularly between Orangeville and the Alton Grange property using a variety of tax incentives.

Next Steps:

  • Email campaign to constituents with donation opportunities to support local land securement efforts
  • Within the next four years establish a foot path that links the Caledon Trailway to Orangeville
  • A challenge will be to increase the number of young people involved in using – and advocating for – trails and cycling infrastructure

Priority #5:Construct a Trail on the Rail Line Linking Orangeville, Shelburne & Beyond

Highlights of progress:

  • Progress on this trail has not yet been made due to the negotiations currently underway to re-establish an active rail line on this currently abandoned rail corridor.
  • Should the line be reactivated, the idea of establishing a trail beside the rail corridor has been researched and recommended.
  • HCIA Trails Working Group has conducted research that confirms the safety of trails beside active rail lines and has shared that information with members of County Council as well as the public via the media.
  • Some members of Dufferin’s Local Councils have gone on record as saying they have concerns regarding the safety of trails beside active rail lines.
  • The Orangeville Trails Committee has also done considerable research documenting the safety of such trails…but unfortunately lost Council support for this trail at the “final hour” because of concerns raised by some citizens.
  • Highlights from the Orangeville experience were shared by the Orangeville Trails Committee Chair – Bernadette Hardaker

Ingredients of Success and/or Learnings:

  • A trail project like this needs citizen & political champions
  • It’s important to keep people informed. We underestimated the need for better citizen education re: safety and Rails with Trails
  • It is difficult to use rational arguments to allay irrational fears
  • We suspect that NIMBY was a real factor as much as safety for the public concerns raised regarding the construction of this trail in Orangeville

Next Steps:

  • Continued education of elected officials at the local and County levels as well as the public is needed regarding the safety of Rails with Trails
  • Seek meetings with local municipalities to better understand the concerns and hopes of each one as it relates to the rail line being reactivated
  • Research the Rails with Trails project in Ingersoll as a model for economic impact
  • Become more knowledgeable about “ownership” options being considered for the Dufferin County rail line (leasing rather than selling)
  • Collaboration with the area snowmobile clubs regarding the Dufferin Rail Bed
  • Is it possible that the current corridor could be re-graded and used as a trail now – while negotiations continue regarding its potential sale?

Updates on Other Area Trails

In addition to the progress on the five specific priorities reviewed above, other achievements that support trails and its infrastructure throughout the region and beyond include:

  • Trails Master Plans being completed for Orangeville and Shelburne
  • Growing appreciation of the Upper Grand Trailway as a valued community asset
  • The recent updating of the Caledon Trails Master Plan (to be approved this Spring 2011)
  • An Active Transportation Plan in development now in Peel Region (implementation scheduled for Winter 2011)
  • The Arthur Rails to Trails group is interested in exploring opportunities to link into Dufferin via the Upper Grand Trailway
  • Cycling and Trails Master Plans now in development in Kitchener and Waterloo region. In Waterloo region, as part of a Sustainable Municipalities Summit in 2011, all regional trails maps forwarded to Google in an effort to support greater mapping access

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Overview of the Dufferin Trails & Active Transportation Master Plan (DCATT)

Chris Broom, Chair of HCIA’s Trails Working Group offered participants an overview of the highlights of the Dufferin Trails & Active Transportation Master Plan. A copy of Chris’ Overview of DCATT can be accessed here.

You can view a copy of the full Dufferin Trails & Active Transportation Master Plan here.

View the Dufferin Plan’s accompanying Design Guidelines that highlight technical specifications for trail construction as well as recommendations for signage can also be accessed here.

Implementing Trails Master Plans: Lessons From the Ontario Trails Council

Patrick Connor of the Ontario Trails Council shared wisdom and experience from other jurisdictions to help inform the group’s thinking about how we might work individually, and together, to build upon the momentum and success of trails development to date and also ensure that the opportunities outlined within the various area trails plans become a reality. Key messages from his presentation include:

  • The importance of trails counters to help demonstrate how much various local trails are being used – and to also enable us to track increases in trail use over time. These statistics are also important when seeking support from local and County councils to invest in the trails network
  • Becoming familiar with the economic impact of investments in Trails was another key message. Patrick’s presentation includes references to help determine how investment in trails impact tourism and health spending to name just two examples
  • Ensuring that efforts are made to promote existing trails and make it easy for people to find and use them must also be given attention. Ideas like guided hikes & trailhead amenities are highlighted
  • The importance of working collaboratively as trails groups to support one another both within our region – and providing support and cooperation with province-wide efforts was emphasized…as was working collaboratively with other groups in the community with similar interests…e.g. health units etc.

A copy of Patrick’s full Powerpoint presentation can be accessed here: OTC Headwaters Trails Presentation - Nov 2010

Working Together to Implement the Trails Plan(s) in the Headwaters

The participants then chose one of four small group conversations to join. Each conversation was aimed at generating insights and ideas for action that could be implemented here in Headwaters and beyond….building upon the opportunities that had been shared in the morning…and some of the wisdom and experience from other jurisdictions that was shared by Patrick and the Ontario Trails Council. The four topic areas were:

  1. DCATT Implementation
  2. DCATT: Outreach and Engagement (events, education & signage)
  3. Revisiting the 5 Headwaters Trails Priorities of 2007
  4. HCIA Trails Working Group: Feedback & Our Future Role

Highlights from each discussion are outlined below:

DCATT Implementation: (facilitator: Del Bernardi)

How can we incorporate the lessons learned today?

  • Engaging the public more…and encouraging more participation on the trails
  • Installing counters on local trails…or other ways to track trail usage
  • Ensure adequate parking facilities
  • Secure commitments of funding for trail construction by various entities including: all levels of government as well as corporate and public sponsorship
  • Make an economic case for the investment in trails
  • Present the development of trails as an advantage to the local economy

DCATT: Outreach and Engagement(facilitator: James Herman)

What More Can Be Done Re: Events, Education, Signage To Promote Local Trail Use?

  • Don’t reinvent the wheel – use info from other’s experiences
  • Calgary, Bow River Trail, Outreach is done by Service Clubs and the CIBC; Use existing events i.e.: Breast Cancer Runs
  • Host races, cross country skiing events; “Have an event they will come.”
  • Mono had a 5K unicycle race on a trail and young people came from all over southern Ontario
  • An event brings people out

How?

  • Hold more public meetings; each one with a different theme
  • Public meetings could have themes like fundraising; liability insurance; rail trails; local priorities etc.
  • Set up info booth at other events – give away Hot Apple Cider and trails brochures
  • Target seniors and families
  • Hand out brochures to people waiting for the train to see the fall colors

Who can contribute?

  • Businesses i.e.: TD environmental trust, CBIC – Service clubs etc.
  • Tourist organizations
  • Schools; some schools have credit programs in leadership, environmental studies, history, geography, phys ed etc. that could use the trail system

First Steps?

  • Upgrade signage to help people know the area
  • Include “share the road signs” for cyclists
  • Update area trails & cycling maps and make them easily accessible
  • We need to know within our group what we want to promote; what our priorities are.
  • We need a Communication Subcommittee.
  • We need to attend event and hand out pamphlets.

Additional Comments:

  • Involve the Health Care Industry and Association of Municipalities of Ontario as key partners
  • Conduct further research to be able to promote trails as part of a bigger picture of community economic development and well-being re: tourism; as protected corridors for sewer, water fibre optics etc.
  • Have brochures in Doctor and clinic offices.
  • Hold a Doctor’s Day hike etc.

Revisiting the 5 Headwaters Trails Priorities of 2007 (facilitator: Fred Knetsch)

Which of These 5 Priorities Are Still Valid? Why and/or why not?

  • These priorities are still valid and we need to be maintained until we accomplish these goals before broaden our scope

What work is remaining On Each Priority?

  • See the summary in Section I of this report

HCIA Trails Working Group: Feedback(facilitator: Dave Dyce)

What Has Been the Benefit of HCIA’s Trails Group? What Have We Done Well?

  • Great support that the WG provided to the Orangeville Trails Committee re: the Rails & Trails Issue
  • Seen as an excellent source of information and research re: trails related issues;
  • Good website and database of contacts with the e-blasts

What’s Missing/Where Can We Improve?

  • Want to see the group holding more sessions with local rails groups….perhaps on a semi-annual basis
  • Conducting education sessions for local municipal councilors to gain their support for Trails and the implementation of Master Plans
  • Visit/outreach campaign to local trails groups to learn more, strengthen relationships and facilitate better connections between local groups

What Future Role(s) Should HCIA’s Trails Working Group Play?