Description
For most trips to be made by walking, cycling, or rolling, our transportation infrastructure needs to be built and maintained to be used all year, by people of all ages and abilities. This means making sure that the urban heat island effect is minimized in the hot weather, and surfaces are quickly and consistently cleared of ice and snow in the cold weather. As climate change gives us warmer, wetter, and wilder weather, this will become even more important over time.
This action will be led by the Area Municipalities, and the Region of Waterloo. Please see below for the most recent publicly available updates.
REGION OF WATERLOO
The Region of Waterloo and Grand River Transit are leading transit-supportive active transportation projects to create safe, convenient connections from the transit network to more destinations and employment areas.
The Integrated Mobility Plan (see Action 1.1.1), to be completed by 2027, will also help support all people to move easily from place to place according to their own needs.
CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
Levels of Service for year-round active transportation / trails maintenance (including plowing) are being reviewed through the Parks Master Plan (2025). Active Transportation projects continue to be implemented based on the recommendations of the Cycling Master Plan and other identified needs. Recent projects include the following:
- Replacement of the Mill Run Trail bridge east of Speedsville Road
- Construction of a new sidewalk on Reuter Drive
- Construction of a new pedestrian crossover of Elgin Street North at Galt Avenue
- Replacement of a pedestrian bridge in Mill Race Park
- Southpoint subdivision trails construction connecting to the City’s Southeast Galt Recreation Complex, two schools, and a library
- Construction of a new sidewalk Preston Parkway
- Construction of a new multi-use trail and pedestrian crossover on Blenheim Road
CITY OF KITCHENER
Since 2018, operations have been enhanced to support year round active transportation in the following ways:
Service level enhancements:
- Assisted services program for sidewalk maintenance and window clearing
- Proactive by-law enforcement program.
- Increased snow loading to clear bike lanes and support visibility on narrow streets.
- Increased response times for primary trail maintenance to support year-round trail use.
- Implemented additional salt route to enhance response times in priority snow-clearing areas.
- Developing public dashboards and improving resident communications to provide greater transparency on winter maintenance efforts.
- Enhanced communications related to timing of maintenance activities between active transportation infrastructure.
Operational enhancements:
- A representative inspection and monitoring route of sidewalks has been established and resourced to meet legislative standards.
- Defined operating procedures/best practices and associated service levels for defined winter maintenance functions related to sidewalks, multi-use paths, bike lanes within and outside of right-of-ways.
- Conducting annual reviews of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to ensure documentation reflects current best practices for maintenance of active transportation features.
- Piloting snow-clearing strategies for new traffic-calming features to identify the most effective methods.
- Evaluating alternative winter maintenance materials to enhance safety and optimize resource management.
Resourcing efficiencies:
- Implemented parks shifts to provide more efficient and effective staff coverage to address winter maintenance needs.
Equipment:
- Continual review of equipment through annual equipment review process with input from Fleet, Corporate Sustainability Office, Transportation Planning and front-line operators; to investigate and order more compact winter maintenance vehicle has been ordered to accommodate maintenance of “complete street” designs.
The City of Kitchener Transportation Master Plan and 2020 Cycling & Trails Master Plan 3 goals support efforts to ensure active transportation infrastructure is accessible year round: 1. Build More Connections, 2. Provide a Safe and High Quality Experience and 3. Create a Culture of Active Living
CITY OF WATERLOO
The City of Waterloo is currently conducting a Winter Control Modernization Review. Additionally the City of Waterloo also has Minimum Maintenance Standards for our Transportation Systems.
The City of Waterloo addresses action 1.1.5 through items included in the City's Transportation Master Plan Update 2020:
- Aligning design standards and maintenance requirements with existing equipment and methods
- Facilitating cross-organizational collaboration as part of facility operations and maintenance
- Developing prioritization of resources for winter control through tiered levels of service by considering factors such as the Primary Network, access to transit, usage volumes, access to destinations, and key connections
TOWNSHIP OF WOOLWICH
The Township of Woolwich addresses this action through designs and operating requirements addressed in the 2023 Active Transportation Master Plan.
TOWNSHIP OF WELLESLEY
- The Township of Wellesley Development Standards require a minimum 2m wide asphalt as standard for new trails.
- Proactive by-law enforcement program for sidewalk clearing.
- Sidewalk inspections take place in the spring and fall to ensure that sidewalks meet legislative standards