It could cost Wellington North about $500,000 in the first 10 years of an active transportation plan proposed for Wellington County.
Council heard a presentation on the proposed $24 million plan that would see about 1,000 kilometers of biking and hiking trails stretching across Wellington County developed. The total price tag is based over a 20-year period to put the plan in place and would include all seven municipalities that make up Wellington County. The plan was presented at council’s Nov. 5 meeting by Karen Armstrong, vice chairman of the Wellington County Active Transportation Plan Committee and county planner Sarah Wilhelm. Wellington North was the first county municipality to hear the presentation.
Preparation of the plan has included public meetings, surveys and meetings with councillors from the different municipalities.
Armstrong said a survey attracted 83 responses from residents of Wellington North with 30 indicating interest in being involved.
“It’s a system of routes from Puslinch to Clifford and from Minto to Erin,” Armstrong said. “Each urban centre is on it or in close proximity.”
In the township, the trails would stretch south and north and east and west with an emphasis in the early stages of connecting with trails being developed near Arthur. The estimated price tag for the township would be about $3 million of the $24 million.
The plan would see about 110 kilometres of trail developed in the township. Of that, 21km would be multi-use trails, 84km signed routes and about 1km would be on paved shoulders.
Council gave its approval in principle to the plan.
