REPORT Meeting Date: February 14, Regional Council

Transcription

1 REPORT Meeting Date: February 14, Regional Council For Information DATE: REPORT TITLE: ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT FROM: Dan Labrecque, Commissioner of Public Works Janette Smith, Commissioner of Health Services David L. Mowat. MBChB. MPH. FRCPC. Medical Officer of Health OBJECTIVE To provide an annual update on the progress of implementing the Region of Peel's Active Transportation Plan (AT Plan). e on February 9, 2012 ( ). The Cities of Mississauga and Brampton, and Town of Caledon have now endorsed the AT Plan and lmplementation strategy. Regional staff are working in collaboration with area municipal staff on implementing the approved AT Plan recommendations relating to policy development, education and outreach programs, and network improvements. Policy recommendations in the AT Plan have been incorporated in the Regional Official Plan Amendment 26 (ROPA), approved in June In the past year we have implemented School Travel Planning (STP) in 14 Peel schools resulting in an average of seven per cent shift from car travel to walking to schools in the morning period. The Walk N' Roll Peel website received over 160,000 hits to date. Seven featured trail brochures have been published to promote trails within Peel. DISCUSSION I. Background On February 9, 2012, Regional Council approved the staff report titled "Peel Region Active Transportation Plan and lmplementation Strategy" and the recommendations which are summarized in Appendix I. The AT Plan was subsequently endorsed by the area municipalities. The AT Plan supports the Region's Official Plan, the objectives, vision and goals of the Peel Corporate Strategic Plan, the Term of Council Priorities (TOCP); and

2 pw January 16,201 3 supports and compliments area municipalities' pathways, trails, and cycling master plans. Additionally, the Plan guides the Region in fulfilling its mandate to create a place where walking, cycling, and rolling are safe, convenient, appealing, and accessible options for everyone. Regional staff and area municipalities are working collaboratively to implement the AT initiatives and projects as recommended in the AT Plan. An AT Framework (Appendix II) was developed to facilitate coordination between municipalities. The AT Plan recommendations are categorized into three areas of action: a Policy development aimed at making communities in Peel more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly; Outreach and education programs to manage travel demand and shift travel behaviours; and Development of a comprehensive Region-wide pedestrian and cycling networks. 2. Active Transportation Implementation Strategy Updates The following is a summary of the initiatives and projects that are being implemented to address the recommendations in the AT Plan. a) Policy Development The AT Plan includes recommendations to strengthen policies to reflect the vision of the AT Plan. Through Regional Official Plan Amendment (ROPA) 26 which was approved in June 2012, Regional staff have incorporated policies that align with the policy recommendations in the AT Plan. The Region will continue to encourage policy improvements in local municipal plans, and encourage active transportation supportive policies at all levels of government, including provincial plans such as the Provincial Policy Statement that is currently undergoing review. The Ontario Government released the draft Ontario Cycling Strategy on November 30, Staff is reviewing the draft strategy and will provide comments to encourage the Province to create a more bicycle-friendly environment and allocate more resources to support cycling, and to improve the ability to cross provincial facilities. b) Outreach and Education Programs Regional staff, area municipalities, and other key stakeholders are working together to develop and deliver initiatives and programs focused on active travel to school, safe cycling education, promoting existing and new cycling and pedestrian facilities, and building knowledge to improve active transportation decision making processes and design strategies. These include the following: i) Peel's School Travel Planning Pilot Program School Travel Planning (STP) is a community-based approach to promote walking and cycling for the trip to and from school. This approach brings together school administrators, teachers, parents, students and members of the Peel Safe and Active Routes to School (PSARTS) Committee to develop and implement school travel plans. From , Peel participated in the Metrolinx Stepping It Up (SIU) Pilot Project to impleme&.stp in 14 Peel schools. The pilot project resulted in an average of seven per

3 ' pw-a1-3 - ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPLEMENTATlON PROGRESS REPORT 2012 cent shift from car travel to walking to schools in the morning period and three per cent in the afternoon period. The Peel STP Pilot Program builds on the success of the SIU Project to continue engaging students in active travel to and from school. The objective is to establish STP in six to eight selected Peel schools from ii) ~ealthy Kids Panel The Region of Peel submitted a letter to endorse Metrolinx's submission entitled "stepping Up Against Childhood Obesity through School Travel Planning" to the Healthy Kids Panel in September The submission recommends expanding the STP program and developing provincial policy to mandate STP in every school in Ontario. iii) Changing Course: Creating Supportive Environments for Healthv Living in Peel This report outlines Peel Public Health's vision for creating supportive environments with a focus on policy change, health inclusion and diversity, and social marketing. The vision includes improving the food environment, making spaces more comfortable for physical activity and active transportation, and promoting building design that encourages physical activity. Peel will target four priority settings: pre-school, schools, workplaces and the built environment. iv) CAN-BIKE The Canadian Cycling Association's CAN-BIKE program is a nationally standardized set of courses on cycling safety that can be offered by municipalities as well as other organizations. The Region is supporting area municipalities to provide CAN-BIKE education by subsidizing costs related to instructor training. Currently, with qualified instructors, CAN-BIKE is offered in the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga. The Town of Caledon is working on obtaining certification to offer the CAN-BIKE program to residents in The Region will continue to work with the municipalities to promote the program in and explore the feasibility of offering the program as part of the STP Pilot Program. v) Walk N' Roll Peel The aim of Walk N' Roll Peel is to raise awareness of the benefits of walking and cycling, by promoting the existing trails and pathways in the Region, and encouraging residents to walk or cycle to destinations, especially for short trips. The Region launched the Walk N' Roll Peel website ( in May To date, the website has received over 160,000 hits. The website hosts an interactive map that displays 1,000 km of trails, bike lanes, and paths that exist in Peel. Additionally, the website has a web-based discussion board to invite public comments and a special events calendar informing residents of upcoming events in Peel. The Walk N' Roll Peel website is updated on an annual basis. Updates to the website in 2013 will include the addition of new trails to the interactive map, the inclusion of new trail signs and identifiers, walking education and safety tips, bicycle theft precautions, and information on Peel's STP Pilot Program. A Smart Phone Application for the trails map is currently under investigation. It is anticipated that a smart phone application will be launched in 2013.

4 ~w*h January 16, 2013 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION IMPLEMENTATION PROGRESS REPORT vi) Walk N' Roll Peel Brochures Since June 2010, the Region in partnership with the area municipalities, have published seven featured trail brochures to promote-trails within ~eei. The trail brochures can be found on the Walk N' Roll website and are distributed by the Region and area municipalities at outreach events. Three individual trail brochures are targeted for completion in vii) Walk N' Roll Peel Summit Regional and area municipal staff partnered with the Share the Road Cycling Coalition to deliver a conference - the "Walk N' Roll Peel Summit" - on January 18, 2013, to provide opportunities for stakeholders to share current active transportation projects and initiatives, in an effort to identify joint efforts, provide professional development and education, and establish the foundation for future partnerships. In addition to the Summit, Public Forums are being planned in each area municipality in The purpose of these Public Forums is to inform residents on Regional and Municipal active transportation efforts and will provide a platform to gather feedback from residents on their issues and ideas related to active transportation in their communities. viii) Peel GPS Cvcling Studv Over the months of July to September, 2012, the Region, in collaboration with area municipalities, undertook a cycling research study in partnership with the University of Waterloo. The results of the study will help identify popular cycling routes and destinations, information on cycling activity (volume of trips, trip lengths, speeds, origindestination pairs, experienced hazards, etc), and motivations for cycling. The results will also be used to inform design strategies, infrastructure investments, and policy decisions related to active transportation. The final report is expected to be completed in early c) Enhancing Pedestrian and Cycling Networks The most cost effective way to build new pedestrian and cycling facilities is often to incorporate into capital projects, such as road widening projects, intersection improvements, and resurfacing. The projects are coordinated with area municipal staff through ongoing budget coordination. i) New Pedestrian and Cycling Facilities In 2012, the Region in collaboration with the area municipalities, constructed approximately 19 km of new AT facilities. The Region anticipates an additional 22 km of new AT facilities in Table I in Appendix Ill summarizes the construction of paved shoulders, sidewalks, and Multi-Use s (MUT) along regional roads completed in 2012 and AT facilities under designlconstruction in 2012 that will be completed in ii) Pedestrian and Cycling Projects Underwav Improvements to trail crossings for the Caledon way along Regional roads (e.g. Airport Road, Hwy 50, and Old Church Rd) are under review. Signage for existing paved shoulders along sections of Olde Base Line Road, King Street, Mayfield Road, Highway 50, Mayfield Road, Winston Churchill Boulevard, and Old Church Road will be reviewed in 2013.

5 MI -5- In coordination with the Hanlan Water Project, the Region and the City of Mississauga are currently working on the design of MUT along: Dixie Road from north of the QEW to Eastgate Parkway; 0 Tomken Road from Eastgate Parkway to Britannia Road; and Cawthra Road from Meadows Boulevard to Burnhamthorpe Road The Region, in collaboration with the area municipalities, will continue to plan for and build AT infrastructure through Environmental Assessment studies, resurfacing projects, and roads capital projects as opportunities arise. iii) Greenbelt Cycling Route The Waterfront Regeneration Trust (WRT) has received funding from the Greenbelt Foundation to conduct a feasibility study of a new cycling route connecting communities throughout the Greenbelt. The project would create a 600 km signature provincial cycling route that traverses six regions (County of Northumberland, Regions' of Durham, York, Peel, Halton and Niagara and the City of Hamilton) primarily by upgrading existing infrastructure. A map of the proposed concept Greenbelt Cycling route can be found in Appendix V. The project would encompass a strong tourism component to draw new cycling visitors to the Region. A coordination meeting with the WRT was held in late September to explore the Greenbelt Cycling Route in Peel. The Caledon way (35 km through the Greenbelt areas of Peel) in the Town of Caledon is considered to be a suitable connection. The Region will work with area municipalities to also explore possible connections from the Caledon way connecting to the Waterfront (from Lake Ontario) via the Etobicoke Creek. The Etobicoke Creek connects the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga to the City of Toronto. d) Active Transportation Budget for 2013 The 2013 capital budget includes projects for the construction of new infrastructure and programming to encourage active modes of travel. i) Infrastructure An envelope funding for AT infrastructure improvements projects to fill the gaps in the existing sidewalks and MUT systems has been approved in the 2013 budget. The proposed projects can be found in Appendix IV. ii) Education, Outreach, and Social Marketing The 2013 budget has been programmed to include education, outreach and social marketing programs aimed at increasing awareness and encouraging behaviour change for people to shift from driving to walking and cycling. Two of the new initiatives include programs such as bicycle parking pilot project which is aimed at identifying opportunities for locating and installing bicycle racks, and community based social marketing program which targets messages for specific communities, again to promote a shift from driving to walking and cycling.

6 Qw-PI-6-3. Highlights of Active Transportation Initiatives from Area Municipalities The Cities of Mississauga and Brampton, and Town of Caledon are implementing local initiatives to promote AT in their respective communities. The following highlights initiatives in each area municipality. a) City of Mississauga - A Bicycle-Friendly Community In September 201 0, Mississauga City Council endorsed the Mississauga Cycling Master Plan. The Plan outlines a strategy to build an integrated on-road and off-road cycling network as part of a multi-modal transportation system, as well as a wide range of accompanying policies and programs to enhance cycling. A Cycling Office was established in the Transportation and Works Department to lead the implementation of this plan. Infrastructure improvements in included the construction of over 23 km of cycling network, completion of secure bike parking rooms at the Civic Centre and Central Library, the introduction of new way-finding signs on several routes and a green pavement marking demonstration project. In 2012, the City completed another 23 km of cycling network, installed pilot project "crossride" facilities at signalized intersections, installed bicycle loop detection at 23 signalized intersections and continues to expand way-finding signage along existing routes. Several successful cycling events were held in Mississauga including Bike to Work Day in partnership with Smart Commute and the Tour de Mississauga hosted by the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee. Educational initiatives included production of the City's Bikeways and s Maps, CAN-BIKE cycling safety courses and community participation in workshops and outreach events. In conjunction with the Mississauga Cycling Advisory Committee, Cycling Office staff submitted recommendations to the Office of the Chief Coroner regarding the panel review of cycling deaths in Ontario. Following the release of the Coroner's Report on Cycling Deaths, the City of Mississauga passed a resolution in support of the Coroner's recommendations on September 26, The City of Mississauga was recently awarded with a Bicycle Friendly Community - Bronze Designation by the Share the Road Cycling Coalition. The award was presented to Mississauga City Council on May 9, b) City of Brampton - Bicycle Facility lmplementation PIan In response to the direction of City Council (September 201 I), the City of Brampton continues to develop the Bicycle Facility lmplementation PIan (BFIP). The Plan will provide a strategy to implement a safe and efficient city-wide cycling network. The emphasis of the exercise is on the development of a strategy for making systematic improvements to roads related bikeway infrastructure (i.e. on-road and in-boulevard) to promote the use of the bicycle for purposes other than recreation. The overall objectives of the BFlP are expected to align with the Region of Peel Active Transportation Plan and lmplementation Strategy. The BFlP will: e provide City roads and connecting facilities that are pedestrian and bicyclefriendly; fill gaps in Brampton's Pathways and overall active transportation network; and

7 Pw e support the City's Official Plan and Transportation and Transit Master Plan by increasing the share trips made by' walking and cycling. City staff is preparing a status report for the February 6, 2013 Committee of Council meeting. The report will provide an overview of the BFIP and other complementary initiatives. c) Town of Caledon - Planning for Bicycle-Friendly Community Town staff and Council are working to incorporate a Complete Streets model into new developments and improving cycling and walking facilities in developed areas. The Planning and Public Works departments are working closely with the Region of Peel to create a network of routes for AT. In February 2012, Caledon Council resolved to work toward a Bicycle Friendly Community designation and formed an AT working group with the goal of achieving Bronze status by Measuring Success As we are implementing the recommendations under the Region's Active Transportation Plan, we help to reduce vehicle trips, reduce greenhouse gas and encourage residents to be more active by walking and cycling. Therefore, we are supporting the following Term of Council Priorities: 9 TOCP # 1 - Reduce greenhouse gas emissions (measured through vehicle kilometres reduced through AT trips) TOCP # 9 - Increase active transportation (measured through Transportation Tomorrow Survey, Cordon Count Program and other AT program surveys) 8 TOCP # 18 - Promote a supportive environment for healthy weights (measured through ' the Canadian Community Health Survey data) CONCLUSION A substantial number of actions have been implemented in 2012 in three key areas: 'I. to improve policy related to active transportation; 2. to educate and inform the travelling public to promote behaviour change; and 3. to plan for and construct active transportation facilities. The work that is being done is key to the success of the implementation of the active transportation plan and is an integral part of three Term of Council Priorities: Q to reduce greenhouse gas emissions; to increase active transportation; and to promote a supportive environment for healthy weights.

8 p~hl- 8 - January 16,201 3 Regional staff will continue to work with area municipal staff, the Province and other stakeholders to develop an active transportation friendly environment that supports people walking and cycling as part of their daily activity. Dan Labrecque Commissioner of Public Works Janette Smith Commissioner of Health Services David L. Mowat, MBChB, MPH, FRCPC Medical Officer of Health Approved for Submission: u %- D. Szwarc, Chief Administrative Officer For further information regarding this report, please contact Gary Kocialek at extension 4100 or via at gary. kocialek@peelregion. ca Authored By: c. Legislative Services Margie Chung / Shaesta Mitha

9 - I"- APPENDIX I Extracted from Regional Council Minutes - February 9, PW-Al. Peel Region Active Transportation Plan and Implementation Strategy Moved by Councillor Thompson, Seconded by Councillor Sanderson; That the Active Transportation Plan (AT Plan) and Implementation Strategy as summarized in the joint report of the Commissioners of Public Works and Health Services, Chief Financial Officer and Commissioner of Corporate Services and Medical Officer of Health, dated January 10, 2012, titled "Peel Region Active Transportation Plan and Implementation Strategy", be approved; And further, that a copy of the subject report be forwarded to the Cities of Brampton and Mississauga, and Town of Caledon for their endorsement and direction to staff to work collaboratively with Peel Region to implement the AT Plan; And further, that a copy of the subject report be forwarded to the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority, Conservation Halton, Credit Valley Conservation, Peel District School Board, Dufferin-Peel Catholic District School Board, Toronto French School Board, Regions' of York and Halton, Town of Halton Hills, County of Wellington, Dufferin County, Town of Orangeville, Simcoe County, City of Toronto, Ministry of Transportation, and Metrolinx, for information. Carried

10 APPENDIX I1 ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION FRAMEWORK SENIOR MANAGEMENT STEERING COMMITTEE ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION LEADERSHIP GROUP COORDINATION COMMITTEE COORDINATION COMMITTEE I Note: Members in each of the Committee include representatives from area municipalities and the Region of Peel Role I Key Functions of each Committee Senior Management Steering Committee: 4 to act as champions and provide strategic support to active transportation in Peel Active Transportation Leadership Group: o to guide the planning and implementation of active transportation network improvements and programs in Peel; o e to review, recommend and evaluate policy development; to provide coordination between area municipalities and the Region of Peel; to facilitate the exchange of knowledge (e.g. best practices) and information related to active transportation; and to monitor and evaluate the implementation efforts. Active Transportation Network Infrastructure Coordination Committee: o to facilitate and oversee the planning and implementation of the active transportation network proposed in the Peel AT Plan; e to provide updates on network development; e to coordinate infrastructure improvements between area municipalities and the Region; and 0 to monitor and evaluate implementation efforts. Active Transportation Programming Coordination Committee: to facilitate planning and implementation of active transportation programs and initiatives in Peel; to provide updates on program development, delivery, and evaluation; and o to build partnership with stakeholders (e.g. School Boards, Smart Commute, etc.)

11 -1- APPENDIX Ill Table 1 : Summarv of Pedestrian and Cvclina Facilities Location Mississauga Rd Airport Rd Mississauga Rd Mississauga Rd Mavis Rd Mavis Rd Hwy 50 The Gore Rd From Queen St Hwy m north of 340m west of Mavis Rd 300 south of Queen St Cottrelle Blvd To Bovaird Dr Driver Embleton 300m south of 170 m east of Mavis Rd Hwy 407 Castlemore Rd Castlemore Rd Status Under Construction1 Complete Under construction1 Complete 2013 Under construction1 Complete 2013 Under constructionlcompleted Under constructionl Complete end of 2012 Under constructionlcomplete end of 2012 Under construction/ complete Under Constructionl Complete Completed 2012 Type of Facility Length of Facility (km) 1.5 km 1.5 km 1.5 km 0.9 km 0.9 Km 1.9km 2.7km 0.4 km 0.4km 1.0 km 3.0 km 3.0 km 3.8 km 0.4 km Queensway East (Mississauga) Cawthra Rd (Mississauga) Derry Rd (Mississauga) Derry Rd (Mississauga) King St (Caledon) King St (Caledon) King St (Caledon) Regional Road 136 (Caledon) Hwy 50 (Caledon) Hwy 50 (Caledon) Note: AT facilities are Dixie Rd Meadows Blvd Argentia Rd West of Goreway Dr Coleraine Drive Humber Lea Rd Farmers Lane Queen St Rail Line Greenhurst Ave Eastgate Pkwy Millcreek East of Professional Court Farmers Lane Sneath Rd Garafaxa Townline Under construction1 complete Under Construction (by City)lComplete Tender1 Complete Construction Completed 2012 Completed Completed 2012 Completed Centennial Dr Bolton Heights Bolton Heights Columbia Way Under Construction1 complete 2013 Under Construction1 Complete 2013 funded by the Region and Area municipalities Paved shoulder 0.8 km 0.4 km 0.8 km 0.4 km 0.5 km 1.4 km 1.4 km 0.3 km 10 km 1.4 km 0.6 km

12 -1- APPENDIX IV 1 ~ ~ Active Transportation Improvement Proiects Proposed for 2013 (not part of current Roads Capital Budaet) Municipality Mississauga* Road Regional Corridor 1 - south of QEW Regional Corridor 1- north of QEW From Winston Churchill Blvd Credit River To Credit River boundary Status Feasibility on alignment underway by City Km 12Km Proposed Improvements Regional Offroad Mississauga* Regional Corridor 2-south of Hwy 403 Regional Corridor 2-north of Eastgate Parkway Central Parkway Tomken Rd Little Etobicoke Creek Fieldgate Drive Planning underway by City 4Km Regional Off Road Mississauga Brampton Caledon Derry Rd Queen St Existing Paved Shoulders along sections Regional roads Caledon way Crossings Atwood Lane Hwy 41 0 Existing Paved Shoulders along sections Regional roads Hwy 9 Credit Valley River Chrysler Winston Churchill Boulevard To Review for feasibility in 2013 Propose 2013 Technical review underway Technical review underway 1 Km 4.1 Km Various Pedestrian Enhancements Ifill in sidewalk Improve Signagel Pavement markings for bike route 7 way crossings to be implemented in 2013and2014 * Projects to be cost-shared with the City of Mississauga and aligned with City Capital Plan timing. City staff has been consulted on the above proposed projects, and are in principal, supportive of the cost sharing arrangement in implementing these proposed projects. The approval of these projects will be subject to Regional and local Councils through the capital budget process. Note: To ensure that implementation of the AT Plan is as efficient as possible, the implementation will be coordinated with current capital program, operational improvements, transit improvements, and area municipal pathways, trails and cycling master plans. An envelope funding for Active Transportation improvement projects are proposed in the Capital Budget to allow more flexibility on projects moving forward for implementation.

13 APPENDIX V Proposed Concept Greenbelt Cycling Route within Context of Existing Provincial s and Cycling Routes. Source: Waterfront Regeneration Trust