Ontario Construction News staff writer
Prospects for cyclists in Sault Ste Marie took a spin for the better when council recently approved a number of active transportation projects, to be mostly funded by the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program (OMCC).
Almost three years ago, on May 8, 2017, council received from staff the Active Transportation (AT) Strategy detailing priority cycling and active transportation initiatives, based on projects identified in the City’s Cycling Master Plan, the John Rowswell Hub Trail Spokes Study, and the Transportation Master Plan, according to a staff report.
Projects included:
- nine priority cycling routes
- replacing sidewalk sections of the Hub Trail with a multi-use path
- a west end route to the Northern Community Centre
- a link into the former St. Mary’s Paper redevelopment site and James Street
- and a series of EAs assessing the potential for road diets
After the City adopted the strategy, an application was made to the OMCC for funding. The program approved the request and provided $580,535. Based on the program’s funding formula, which requires the municipality to kick in 20 per cent ($145,134), the total amount allocated this year to complete the works is $725,669. OMCC rules require the money to be spent by the end of the year.
The OMCC program aims to support municipalities developing cycling infrastructure to encourage people “to get out of their cars and onto bikes for their daily commute or other frequent trips.” The funding is part of the Province’s strategy to combat climate change by building municipal cycling networks as an alternative to driving.
“These investments in commuter cycling infrastructure will help to promote safety for cyclists, making cycling more comfortable and appealing for day-to-day travel,” according to the 2017 program guide.
There are two application streams for municipalities, each based on population. Municipalities must also state an interest in participating in the program annually, confirming they’d be able to fund at least 20 per cent of each project’s cost.
Four of the nine routes were approved in 2019. They are: Pine Street – from Northern Avenue to Queen Street; Willow Avenue – from Northern Avenue to McNabb Street; Wawanosh Avenue/Willoughby Street – from Grand Crescent to Pine Street; Queen Street East – from the Sault Golf and Country Club property to Dacey Road.
The five remaining routes are: Lake Street – from Village Court to Queen Street; MacDonald Avenue – from Pine Street to Black Road; North Street – from Mary Avenue to Wellington Street; Korah Road – from Henry Street to Lyons Avenue, Goals Avenue – from Second Line to Bonney Street. Staff is currently undertaking the pre-design analysis for the remaining five priority cycling routes. It’s estimated that the analysis for these routes should be complete by mid-March, after which neighbourhood engagement sessions for each of the routes will be planned for late March, or early April.
“It is important to note that in addition to the projects identified in this report the City is planning a number of additional active transportation projects as part of planned capital works projects,” the report’s author, senior planner Stephen Turco, writes.
Those projects include:
- The reconstruction of Black Road will include widened shoulders which will serve as cycling lanes along that road (creating a cycling route from McNabb Street to Third Line)
- The Northern Avenue resurfacing project will commence this summer, which includes the conversion of the street from four lanes to three lanes, with dedicated cycling lanes on both sides.
- The Bay Street resurfacing project is also scheduled to be completed this summer which will include a 1.5 km multi-use path on the south side of this road.
- The Great Northern Road/Second Line Environmental Assessment (EA) is scheduled to commence this summer. This EA will have a strong focus on improving pedestrian and cycling movements through this area of the community
“With the implementation of all of these projects coupled with existing routes and paths, the City will have approximately 50 km of active transportation infrastructure by the end of 2020,” writes Turco.