HomeMy WebLinkAboutCS 09-12
Report to
Council
PICKERING Report Number: CS 09-12
Date: February 21, 2012 106
From: Everett Buntsma
Director, Community Services
Subject: City of Pickering Comments on the Regional Cycling Plan Review
- File: A-1440
Recommendation:
1. That Report CS 09-12 of the Director, Community Services regarding the
Regional Cycling Plan Review be received;
2. That Regional Council be requested to direct Regional staff to:
a) modify the current work plan such that the presentation of the draft updated
Regional Cycling Plan is made at the May 24, 2012 Joint meeting of the
Finance and Administration, Planning and Economic Development, Works
and Health and Social Services Committee instead of the March 22, 2012
meeting;
b) include a commitment that will ensure continuous, reliable and sustainable
funding to address the construction, repair, maintenance, monitoring and
promotion of the Regional Cycling Plan through the development of an
on-going 5 year capital plan as part of the Region's annual budgeting
process;
c) recommend a revision to the current regional policy in order that
implementation initiatives of the Regional Cycling Plan are not confined to
strictly correspond with road improvement projects, but may also be
considered independent of road construction to close network gaps and
facilitate key connections along cycling spines identified in the Regional
Cycling Plan;
d) modify the current work plan to require public and stakeholder consultation to
be undertaken by the Region, given that updating the Regional Cycling Plan
is a Regional initiative and is inter-municipal in scope;
3. That Regional Council be requested to provide the area municipalities,
stakeholders and public with sufficient time to analyze the draft updated Regional
Cycling Plan by requesting comments no later than September 30, 2012; and
4. Further, that the City Clerk forward a copy of Report CS 09-12 to the Regional
Municipality of Durham and all local municipalities in Durham Region.
Report CS 09-12 February 21, 2012
Subject: City of Pickering Comments on the Page 2
07 Regional Cycling Plan Review
Executive Summary: On October 17, 2011, Pickering Council endorsed Report
CS 39-11 that contained staffs recommended modifications to the Regional Cycling
Plan to include additional existing and future Regional Roads as Regional Cycling Spines,
and recommended a revision to the current funding formula to address both on-road and
off-road bikeway facilities.
The current schedule has the Region releasing a draft updated Regional Cycling Plan
on March 22, 2012 with comments from area municipalities due by the first week of
May, and Regional staff reporting on a final updated Plan to Joint Committee on June
14, 2012. This timing will not provide sufficient time for area municipalities to
comprehensively review the draft updated Regional Cycling Plan, solicit comments from
the public and other stakeholders, report back to their own Committees/Councils, and
ultimately report back to the Region. It is recommended that the timing be changed
such that the Regional staff report on the draft updated Regional Cycling Plan is
presented to Joint Committee on May 24, 2012 with the final updated Plan being
presented for adoption on November 8, 2012.
Further, staff is recommending that as part of the Region's report on the draft updated
Regional Cycling Plan, a commitment be made to ensure sustainable funding is
provided in order to implement a successful Regional Cycling Plan.
Financial Implications: No direct costs to the City are anticipated as a result of the
proposed recommendations.
Discussion:
On June 8, 2011, Regional Council requested the eight local municipalities to
suggest modifications to the current Regional Cycling Plan
On June 8, 201'1, Regional Council requested the eight local municipalities to provide
suggestions for modifications to the Regional Cycling Network by September 2011 as
input into an updated Regional Cycling Plan. The current Regional Cycling Plan was
approved by Regional Council in October 2008. This updated Regional Cycling Plan is
to be considered by Regional Council as part of the 2012 business planning and budget
review process.
On October 17, 2011, Pickering Council endorsed staff comments and
recommended changes to the Regional Cycling Plan
On October 17, 2011 Pickering Council endorsed Report CS 39-11 that contained staff's
recommended modifications to the Regional Cycling Plan to add existing and future
Regional Roads as Regional Cycling Spines, such as Altona Road, Finch Avenue,
Westney Road, Liverpool Road and future roads in Seaton such as the Whitevale Road
By-pass, Rossland (Third Concession) Road extension, and Whites Road extension.
Report CS 09-12 February 21, 2012
Subject:. City of Pickering Comments on the Page 3
Regional Cycling Plan Review 1 S
Staff also recommended that the funding formula be revised such that the Region be
100% responsible for the cost of paved shoulders, on-road and off-road bicycle lanes
and that the cost of construction for multi-use bikeway paths be equally shared between
the Region and the City instead of solely by the City.
On November 23, 2011 Regional Council approved a resolution adopted by Tri-
committee regarding the Regional Cycling Plan
Regional Report 2011-J-45 dated November 10, 2011 was prepared with a
recommendation that a draft updated Regional Cycling Plan be presented to a joint
meeting of the Planning and Economic Development, Works, and Finance and
Administration Committees on March 22, 2012, and further that on June 14, 2012 a Report
to the Tri-committee will be presented recommending adoption of a revised Regional
Cycling Plan.
The Region is providing insufficient time for the area municipalities to analyze the
draft updated Regional Cycling Plan and report back to their own
Committees/Councils
The current schedule has the Region releasing a draft updated Regional Cycling Plan
on March 22, 2012 with comments from area municipalities due by the first week of
May, and Regional staff reporting on an updated Plan to Joint Committee on June 14,
2012. This timing will not provide sufficient time for area municipalities to
comprehensively review the Region's draft plan, solicit comments from the public and
other stakeholders, report back to their own Committees/Councils, and ultimately report
back to the Region.
It is recommended that the timing be changed such that the Regional staff report on a
draft updated Regional Cycling Plan is presented to Joint Committee on May 24, 2012
with a final updated Regional Cycling Plan for adoption on November 8, 2012. In order
to meet the November date, comments to the Region would have to be submitted no
later than September 30, 2012. This timeframe provides an opportunity for Regional
and local municipal staff to continue to work collaboratively in an attempt to reach
general consensus on the recommended route modifications, treatment type such as
shared roadways, bicycle lanes or multi-use paths and network costs. Staff from each
of the local municipalities are also approaching their respective Committees/Councils
recommending a deferral in timing of the Regional staffs report on the draft updated
Regional Cycling Plan.
The report on the draft updated Regional Cycling Plan must include a funding
strategy that will ensure continuous, reliable and sustainable funding to
implement a successful Regional Cycling Plan
Staff has previously commented on the need to revise the current Regional policy,
with the Region taking full financial responsibility for the funding and implementation of
Report CS 09-12 February 21, 2012
Subject: City of Pickering Comments on the Page 4
1 0 9 Regional Cycling Plan Review
paved shoulder bikeway facilities on Regional roads. The additional time being
requested by staff will also provide an opportunity to continue the dialogue to develop
appropriate cost sharing arrangements that have been raised by the local
municipalities. Staff had also recommended that the Region consider committing
$500,000 annually in its capital budget for cycling infrastructure. Therefore, the
Region's report on the draft updated Regional Cycling Plan should also propose the
development of an on-going 5 year capital plan as part of the Region's annual
budgeting process that would provide sustainable funding to address the construction,
repair, maintenance, monitoring and promotion of the Regional Cycling Plan.
Attachments: Not Applicable
Prepared By: Approved/Endorsed By:
Richard W. H born, P.Eng Everett Buntsma, NPD, CMM
Di,Vision Head, Engineering Services Director, Community Services
Grant McGregor, MCIP RPP Neil Carrot , , RPP
Principal Planner - Policy Director, Planning & Development
GM:RH:ld
Recommended for the consideration
of Pickering City Council
t~ 15, Zolz
Tony Prevedel, P.Eng.
Chief Administrative Officer