Wellington County’s Active Transportation Plan is taking another step forward.
The group recently gave notice of a number of public information centres in the works throughout the county.
The county is now in the second stage of the County-wide Active Transportation Master Plan with the goal of creating and improving opportunities throughout Wellington County for active forms of transportation such as walking, running, hiking and cycling.
The study area for the plan includes all of Wellington County. At the same time, the Centre Wellington Township is in the second stage of development of a township wide trails master plan.
That builds upon the success of the Elora Cataract Trailway and seeks to connect neighbourhoods, schools, workplaces, recreation facilities, parks, and also will link Centre Wellington to surrounding municipalities.
The master plan study area includes the entire township. The studies will be complete this spring at which time they will be presented to county and area councils.
Key components of the two plans include development of:
– a county-wide active transportation network for all of Wellington County and a trails network in Centre Wellington;
– active transportation and trail design guidelines;
– policies related to active transportation and trails;
– phasing and implementation priorities;
– maintenance strategies; estimated costs for implementation and maintenance/operations of active transportation and trail routes;
– potential encouragement and promotion programs; and
– funding and potential partnership opportunities.
Three public information sessions have been planned for different locations throughout the county: April 11, 6:30 to 9pm at the Sportsplex in Fergus, April 12, 7 to 9pm at the Puslinch Community Centre, and April 25, 7 to 9pm at the Palmerston arena,
Information will be on display for review at each: the proposed county-wide Active Transportation Network and the proposed Centre Wellington trails network (at the Fergus location, on April 14).
It is also a chance for residents to have a say on how conditions for active transportation and trails can be improved.
The study team will be available to answer questions and discuss issues and suggestions with residents and the meeting will be an open house format so residents may drop-in at any time over the course of the event.
Those unable to attend can complete an on-line questionnaire that can be obtained from the county and township web sites http://www.county.wellington.on.ca/community_subsection.aspx?id=3085 or http://www.centrewellington.ca/lists/Announcements/AllItems.aspx or directly at http://www.surveymonkey.com/Wellington_Questionnaires .
For additional information and updates visit the County’s or Township’s web site or contact: County of Wellington planner Sarah Wilhelm, at 74 Woolwich Street Guelph, Ontario N1H 3T9 (t): 519-837-2600 ext. 2130 (t): 1-800-663-0750 ext. 2130 (f): 519-823-1694 or at sarahw@wellington.ca; or Andy Goldie, Director of Parks and Recreation for Centre Wellington at 550 Belsyde Avenue Fergus, N1M 2W5 or 519-843-2800 extension 23 or 519-843-2565 or email agoldie@centrewellington.ca.
