A committee of council has approved the Active Transportation Master Plan.

It’s broken into short term, medium term and long term goals.

The plan was put together by Trace Planning and Design.

Senior Planner Jim Scott says the short term goals include several suggestions to improve the trail system.

He says it’s pretty good now but by making a few more connections they could improve the system even better.

He’s also recommending a pilot project that cyclists will be interested in.

“We want to communicate the idea of a mixed use street. We’re looking at Memorial Drive as a place to do a pilot project to do a bike lane there. And test that idea and see how people learn from it and how it feels,” he says.

The cost of the plan is $50,000 with the cost shared between the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling
Program, the North Bay- Parry Sound District Health Unit and the city.

North Bay’s share is $5,000.

Paula McCloskey is the city’s Manager of Arts, Culture, Recreation & Leisure Services. She says if council accepts the plan they already have funding ready to go on the short term initiatives.

“When we look at our projected costs for the first 1-5 years that funding we already have through that commuter cycling program,” she says.

She says that funding around $450,000 with the city’s contribution for 20 % of the cost of any projects that go ahead means they have around $570,000 to spend should council give the green light.

The first stages of the plan focuses on little trail connections that will almost double the amount of connected trails in the city due to the strength of the Kate Pace Way and the Kinsemen Trail.

Council is expected to approve the plan on February 26th.

Filed under: Active Transportation Master Plan