Active Transportation Master Plan

ABOUT

THE ATMP PROJECT

The Town of Fort Erie is developing a long-range, strategic and comprehensive Active Transportation Master Plan with the goal of providing direction to Council and staff on the enhancement of the Town’s active transportation network. The following are a couple of key facts about the ATMP. The master plan will…

1. Address the whole of the Town of Fort Erie including rural and built up areas;
2. Identify a connected and continuous network of routes and facilities for people of all ages and abilities that links communities within and outside of the Town;
3. Build on existing pedestrian and cycling systems such as the Friendship Trail, the Region of Niagara Circle Route and the Waterfront Trail and sidewalks;
4. Consider comfort and safety of users as well as strategic areas of improvements and investment based on current trends and interests;
5. Consult and engage the residents of the Town to better understand their interests and preferences related to active transportation both in the context of utilitarian and recreation;
6. Enhance and leverage the community as a key tourism destination while also addressing the needs of local residents; and
7. Outline a strategy to take the master plan vision through to reality i.e. implementation, partnerships, recommendations, policies, etc.

THE SCOPE TIMELINE

The Fort Erie ATMP has just launched in January 2019 and is anticipated to be completed by Summer / Fall 2019. The project will be completed in the following four phases:

PHASE 1: DOCUMENT REVIEW

When: January – February 2019

What:

• Launch consultation and engagement program;
• Review background information, best practices and AT benefits
• Undertake socio-demographic assessment;
• Prepare technical memo #1

PHASE 2: EXISTING AT NETWORK IDENTIFICATION & ASSESSMENT

When: February – April 2019

What:

• Map existing active transportation routes and facilities
• Investigate existing and future routes
• Identify proposed AT network and facility types
• Develop active transportation design guidelines
• Prepare technical memo #2

PHASE 3: DRAFT ATMP PREPARATION & NETWORK DEVELOPMENT

When: April – June 2019

What:

• Host public open house and workshop sessions
• Prepare AT policy considerations
• Develop Draft ATMP
• Present preliminary report to Council

PHASE 4: IMPLEMENTATION

When: June – August 2019

What:

• Prepare draft AT phasing plan and identify priority projects
• Prepare financial strategy for the ATMP
• Identify actions and tools to support implementation
• Update and finalize ATMP report
• Present report to Council

INVOLVEMENT

We want to hear from you! We need your help and your input to develop an active transportation master plan specifically for the Town of Fort Erie.  

Over the next couple of months there will be a number of different opportunities where you can ask questions, provide your input and help the team generate ideas about potential active transportation and recreation improvements throughout the Town. They include:

1          INTERACTIVE ONLINE TOOL

You can use our online tool to complete three fun and engaging activities to help us better understand how you would like to see us improve active transportation. The tool will be available until the end of May. Please return to this page at a later date!

2          PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE

We will be hosting an open house where our team will be available to speak with you about the proposed active transportation network and some suggested recommendations about new active transportation facilities and strategies. Look out for notifications in April!

3          PROMOTIONAL EVENTS

We will be attending local events (to be determined) to learn more about walking, cycling, hiking, etc. in the community. Join us for a quick chat or take one of our promotional materials to let others know about the online tool. Dates and times will be posted on this webpage and through the Town’s social media announcements!

3          DO IT YOURSELF!

We understand that it might be difficult to get to these events and that you may want to talk about this with your friends and family. If so, please use the materials below to host or complete a “DIY” engagement session. Let us know what you think!

UNDERSTANDING

Active transportation means lots of different things to different people. The Public Health Agency of Canada defines Active Transportation as…

“Any form of human powered transportation – walking, cycling and wheelchair use, in-line skating or skateboarding.”

Active Transportation can benefit our health, society, transportation system, environment and economy, because in the simplest of terms it:

• Gives us an opportunity to be physically active on a regular basis
• Is accessible to all Canadians and increases social exchanges
• Reduces road congestion
• Contributes to reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• Saves money on gas and parking

When talking about active transportation and active recreation there are many different types of reasons why you could choose to walk, bike or in-line skate including:

1. Fun – a social activity that you can do with friends and family in your free time
2. Fitness –  a way to become more physically active to help with both mental and physical well-being
3. Getting to Work or School –  a way to get to and from work or school also sometimes referred to as commuting
4. Tourism –  a way to enjoy different destinations found throughout the Town as well as for wider exploration of the Region

When developing an active transportation network, it is important to identify a connected and continuous system of facilities that accommodate walking, cycling and other forms of human powered transportation. As part of the Fort Erie Active Transportation Master Plan we will be considering a number of different types of active transportation facilities and determine where they may be considered appropriate throughout the Town.

1. Signed Bicycle Route
2. Signed Bicycle Route with Sharrow (indicating shared space with cyclists and motorists)
3. Signed Bike Route with Edgeline (not specifically designated for cyclists)
4. Bike Lane (space specifically for cyclists found in urban areas)
5. Paved Shoulder (space for cyclists and / or pedestrians found in rural areas)
6. Buffered Bike Lane (space specifically for cyclists with a painted or physical barrier separating from cars)
7. Buffered Paved Shoulder (space for cyclists and / or pedestrians with a painted buffer between users and motorists)
8. Cycle Track (separated space for cyclists which is raised from the roadway but before the curb)
9. Multi-use Trail (space within the boulevard for cyclists and pedestrians)