Six out of seven municipalities have provided in-principle support of the proposed county-wide Active Transportation Plan, but Guelph-Eramosa council has refused to back the $24-million plan – at least for now.
“For the love of God, I don’t get this at all,” councillor Doug Breen said on Monday night following a presentation from members of the committee in charge of the plan.
Breen was particularly critical of the portion of the plan calling for more than 50km of paved shoulders on county roads within the township.
“I don’t think it’s safe,” he said, noting he would not let anyone, let alone children, ride alongside transport trucks travelling at close to 100km/h.
Breen said council has struggled in the past with insurance and safety concerns tied to playground equipment and a toboggan hill, and yet, “This is the most dangerous thing we’ve ever proposed.”
County planner Sarah Wilhelm said provincial legislation already permits the use of bicycles on roads.
Wilhelm and Karen Armstrong, vice chair of the committee and coordinator of Wellington Dufferin Guelph Public Health’s In Motion initiative, said bicyclists are actually more likely to be injured while travelling on sidewalks.
County planning director Gary Cousins said residents are already riding along county roads and adding wider shoulders will help improve safety.
But Breen wasn’t buying it.
“I can’t believe we’re even talking about this,” he said, suggesting the paved shoulder idea should be abandoned completely.
“I can save you a bunch of money off the top,” he said of the $1.5-million cost for adding paved shoulders. “I’d much rather see this money invested in something people would actually use.”
Wilhelm said there is flexibility in the overall plan and lower-tier municipalities will have the final say on projects within their municipalities.
But in addition to safety concerns, councillors did not seem impressed with Guelph-Eramosa’s $1.72-million portion of the overall cost for the 20-year plan that will include 1,000km of trails across the county – 70% of them of the on-road variety.
The total bill within the township is estimated at over $4.4-million, with the county picking up more than $2.72-million.
Councillor Corey Woods said the math doesn’t seem to add up, as the delegation noted a total township cost of $160,600 over the first ten years, leaving a total of over $1.5-million over the following decade.
Wilhelm acknowledged the plan contains some “big numbers,” but she stressed the idea is to enhance Guelph-Eramosa’s existing network of trails, which she called one of the most diverse in Wellington County.
“We’re not here to tell you how to spend your tax dollars,” Wilhelm said.
She noted the plan, which could actually be implemented over a period of 25 to 40 years (instead of the proposed 20), includes 50-50 cost sharing on township-owned facilities, as well as a 100% county contribution for work on county property.
Mayor Chris White acknowledged the county will be paying for the majority of the work within Guelph-Eramosa, “But it’s still our taxpayers,” he said.
White added if the township is going to be on the receiving end of county funding, many people would prefer the money go towards a road or bridge rather than bike lanes.
Cousins said he understands there are financial concerns associated with the plan, so that’s why the committee decided to initially take a 10-year approach.
He was hoping council could separate the overall plan from the budget numbers and provide in-principle support for the plan now – but White said council could not make that distinction.
Cousins also suggested there could be grants in the future for active transportation projects and the recipients could be chosen based on whether or not they have a plan in place.
White said the active transportation plan is “in general … a good project,” but the township has many other infrastructure needs council has to address.
“It’s a big step for us,” White said of the plan, adding the proposal would have to be looked at closer in terms of finances and how it fits in with the township’s existing parks and trails plans.
Breen also argued against the huge financial commitment.
“In principle, it’s a wonderful idea … but I think you’ll find the public’s priorities are nowhere near the kind of money we’re talking about here,” Breen told the delegation.
Council did not approve the plan in principle – as every other municipality in the county has done – but instead deferred the matter to its 2013 budget deliberations.
“Bear with us and give us a little more time,” White told the delegation.
The $1.72-million Guelph-Eramosa portion of the active transportation plan will cover 109km of “facilities” including:
– 9.8km in multi-use trails (7.6km existing) at a cost of $180,000;
– 32.3km of signed routes at a total of $11,120;
– 3.5km of signed routes with sharrow costing $8,400;
– 50.4km of paved shoulders at $1.5 million; and
– 0.8km of bike lanes (no cost).
