The President of the TCRA attended a meeting on September 10, 2021 to hear the plans and schedules for the upcoming multi-use trail projects on Lakeshore Road E. (See Notice of Construction below)
1. Multi-use Trail Section Overview: To provide an asphalt pathway, wider than the existing sidewalk, allowing for bike riders, dog walkers and pedestrians to use it simultaneously. Not designed for the cyclists that currently use Lakeshore Rd. The multi-use trail will cross driveways, as the current sidewalks and gravel paths do. All work will be conducted within the municipal right-of-way and the public road allowance.
a. Chartwell Road to Morrison Road: Construction will commence late September 2021, lasting approximately 6-8 weeks. Only 2 trees have been removed: a maple in poor condition just to the east of Chartwell Rd and a small square spruce east of Bel Aire Dr. There will be an arborist on site. No plans to relocate any hydro poles. Some residents will be required to move sprinkler systems and interlocking paving that is currently on municipal land. Owners will be contacted about this – some already have been.
b. Morrison Road to Maple Grove to Winston Churchill Boulevard: In the very preliminary stages of design. Studies are still being conducted, with construction planned for 2022. There are potentially some hydro poles and trees in the way on the southside, so the multi-use trail may switch to the north side if required. Want to keep costs to a minimum – cutting trees and relocating hydro poles is very expensive, as well as wanting to enhance the area. Chris undertook to liaise with the Region to ensure that there is co-ordination around any potential future hydro upgrades (eg. moving / replacing poles, putting them underground).
c. Allan Street to Chartwell Road: There are some issues between Allan St and Second St with the Heritage policies/by-laws regarding the concrete sidewalks. From Second St to Chartwell Rd it is very tight in terms of space, so tearing this up to put in a narrow asphalt path is not a good use of taxpayers’ money. The multi-use trail might not go ahead here.
2. On-road Bike Lane Feasibility Study: A brief discussion ensued about creating a bike lane from Allan St to Winston Churchill Blvd and beyond by removing the turning lane in the centre of Lakeshore Rd East. There are pros and cons for each. No decision has been reached yet.
3. Other Items: Questions were raised about what happens to the pelotons of cyclists heading east, who will be riding in the designated bike lanes on Lakeshore Rd West, once they arrive in downtown Oakville. The road is narrower now after the rejuvenation – will there be signs directing them north to Church St/Randall St via Navy St, or south along Robinson St? Are there sufficient bike racks downtown to accommodate their bikes if they stop for coffee or lunch? There are no plans for any signage and there appear to be sufficient bike racks.
4. Next steps: More community consultation and communication in the coming weeks and months.