CYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN

ADVISORY COMMITTEE

THURSDAY, MARCH 5, 2009

YORK ROOM, MARKHAM CIVIC CENTRE

MINUTES

ATTENDANCE

Committee: Dwight Richardson, Chair Carole Robertson, Accessibility Representative Christopher Sauer, MEAC Representative Rachael Woodroffe Arup Mukherjee Winston Stewart David Rawcliffe Gerald Corbett Marcia Guthenberg Agency Members: Michelle Holmes, Rouge Park Alliance Wincy Tsang, Smart Commute 404-7 Megan Johnson, School Traffic Planner, York Catholic District School Board Ruby Gill, York Region Health Services Lindsay Rosien, York Region Health Services Loy Cheah, Manager or Transportation Planning

Staff: Lorenzo Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator Laura Gold, Committee Clerk Regrets: Councillor Erin Shapero Councillor Logan Kanapathi Mark Hanlon, Region of York April Weppler, Toronto Region Conservation Authority Sandra McEleney, Vice-Chair Andrew Tronchin

The Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CPAC) convened at 7:10 p.m. with Mr. Dwight Richardson presiding as Chair.

1. MINUTES OF THE CYCLING AND PEDESTRIAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE MEETING HELD ON FEBRUARY 12, 2009

Moved by David Rawcliffe

Seconded by Carole Robertson

That the minutes of the Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee held on February 12, 2009 be adopted.

2. CHANGES OR ADDITIONS TO THE AGENDA

Mr. Lorenzo Mele, Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, requested that the presentation by Mr. Loy Cheah, Manager of Transportation Planning, York Region, entitled “Transportation Planning Update” be moved from item No. 4 on the agenda to item No. 2 on the agenda.

3. YORK REGION TRANSPORTATION PLANNING

Mr. Loy Cheah, Manager or Transportation Planning, gave a presentation entitled “Transportation Planning Update”. The presentation provided an overview of York Region’s Transportation Master Plan, and its Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan.

Mr. Cheah advised that the York Region Transportation Master Plan has the following objectives: 1) to prepare a sustainable blue print to meet current and future transportation needs; 2) to prioritize short, medium, and long term transportation goals through 2031; and, 3) to identify infrastructure improvements, and policy and program needs. He noted that sustainability was a key objective of the York Region Transportation Master Plan.

Mr. Cheah explained that extensive public consultation was conducted in the creation of the York Region Transportation Master Plan, advising that an opinion survey was conducted as part of the public consultation process. The results of the survey indicated that transportation was the most important issue to residents, noting that transit was the favoured approach to addressing the problem, and even residents that did not take transit supported improved public transit.

Mr. Cheah reported York Region’s approach is to accommodate transit through as many alternative modes as possible, noting cycling and walking as one of the alternative modes. He explained that this led to implementation of the Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan.

Mr. Cheah reviewed the proposed cycling network and its implementation schedule. He believed that the completion of the ultimate cycling network would take approximately 25 years. Advising that an inter-municipality workgroup will be created to help implement the plan, and harmonize policies across York Region. He explained that York Region has created programs to assist municipalities in creating multiuse pathways in areas proposed in its Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan that are located under the jurisdiction of the local municipality.

Mr. Cheah advised that Markham recommends on-street bike lanes in the same locations as York Region. He noted that on-street bike lanes are appropriate where there are large numbers of pedestrians or cars accessing driveways, and shared boulevard bike lanes are appropriate where there is little conflict with pedestrians and motorist. Mr. Cheah advised that both Highway 7 and Yonge Street will look very different upon implementation of the Transportation Master Plan.

Questions and Comments

The Chair inquired what the status was on Markham Council’s proposal to York Region with respect to widening Highway 7, and placing a boulevard bike lane from Town Centre Boulevard to Sciberras Road. Mr. Cheah explained that the York Region Council considered Markham’s request, but felt that it should be an on–street bike lane, as a boulevard bike lane would conflict with pedestrian traffic in the area.

Mr. Arup Mukherjee was pleased that York Region’s Cycling and Pedestrian Plan had pathways proposed that would link Lake Simcoe to Lake Ontario. He inquired if York Region had discussed its plans with the City of Toronto. Mr. Cheah reported that York Region is in the early stages of discussing the plans with the City of Toronto.

4. MILNE DAM CONSERVATION AREA MULTI –USE PATHWAY

The Committee discussed the proposed Milne Dam Conservation Area multi-use pathway. Mr. Mele reported that a public meeting was held on February 19, 2009 to consult with the public on the proposed pathway. He advised that Council endorsed, in principle, a preferred alignment at the February 17, 2009 Development Services Committee meeting, which is a fifth option that was created based on the feedback from the public meeting held on October 29, 2008. Council also requested that a workgroup be established to work through the residents concerns. He advised that the working group will visit the site location and walk through the preferred alignment to see if there will be any impact to the trees along the proposed pathway.

The Chair felt that at the public meeting held on February 19, 2008 the residents had a stronger message with respect to the environmental impacts the pathway may have on the area’s natural habitat. He reported that the residents sent a clear message that the existing street network should be used to build the multiuse pathway rather then the conservation area. The Chair noted that some residents were also concerned that the 2 bridges being proposed in the alignment endorsed by Council could cause flooding, as the Milne Dam Conservation Area is intended to control flooding in the area.

The Committee agreed that residents living in the immediate area will resist any type of improvements to the conservation area that may attract more visitors to the park. Mr. Mele explained that the mandate to create the multi-use pathway in the Milne Dam Conservation Area is based on the broader public interest, noting that staff will create a plan to deal with resident concerns such as, parking, litter and security. Staff may also make compromises to resolve resident concerns, such as removing the clear areas that are being proposed in the designs in order to save trees. Mr. Mele believed that there would be heightened interest in the pathway when it is being constructed.

Mr. Mele advised that the proposed pathway is an extension/improvement to the existing pathway in the Milne Dam Conservation Area. The Committee inquired what the next steps were. Mr. Mele reported the next steps were as follows: 1) site visit; 2) submit plans to the Ministry of the Environment (MoE) for approval; 3) submit plan to the Toronto Region Conservation Area for approval; and, 4) obtain approval from Council for the Construction tender (design/construction). The Committee inquired if there were any time constraints with respect to the construction of the pathway. Mr. Mele advised that he was not aware of any time constraints placed on the funding for the pathway, however, limitations exist on how the money can be spent.

5. ONTARIANS WALKING NOW (OWN) WORKSHOPS

Mr. Mele distributed an exhibitor application form for the “Our Greener Side Celebration”, noting that the Town has been requested to participate in this event. He also provided information on the event “Ontarians Walking Now”, noting the Town is a community host of the event. He advised that there would be polling (walking with ski poles) at the event.

6. 2009 BUSINESS PLAN REVIEW

Mr. Mele presented the 2009 Business Plan for the Cycling and Pedestrian Advisory Committee (CPAC). He provided an overview of the projects outlined in the business plan including: 1) Cycling and Pedestrian Network Implementation; 2) Bicycle Rack on Main Streets; 3) Bicycle Route Map and Information; 4) CAN-BIKE Safe Cycling Education; 5) Giro de Markham Event; and, 6) Smart Commute 404-7. The budget for the plan was also reviewed. Mr. Mele explained once the plan is complete it will go to the General Committee for Council’s approval.

Mr. Mele advised that none of the bicycle racks requested by the Committee last year have been installed. He spoke about making sure that the roads that are included in the Cycling and Pedestrian Master Plan are resurfaced, and about phasing the Master Plan in over the next 5 years.

He advised the Committee that it would have the opportunity to review the Cycling and Pedestrian Master Plan before it goes to the General Committee for Council’s Approval.

There was some discussion about a pathway that the Town’s Urban Design Department has been panning that would go behind McCowan Road to Walden Pond. Mr. Mele explained that the goal of creating this pathway is to avoid Markville Mall, noting that this route is very challenging to create, as the area is located on a flood plain. There was some concern with respect to the pathway crossing McCowan Road, as there are currently no traffic signals at this location. Mr. Mukherjee explained that certain conditions must exist to have a crossing signal permitted by York Region. He requested that the pathway be added as a discussion item on the next agenda.

There was some discussion about bicycling on the sidewalk. Mr. Mele was requested to provide the Committee with more information on the Town’s By-law prohibiting bicycling on the sidewalk. Ms. Carole Robertson, Accessibility Representative, was concerned that people were riding their bicycles on the sidewalk and believed more rules need to be put in place to prohibit this type of activity. She noted that it is difficult for people that cannot see well, and for people that are less mobile, when people are on bicycles on the sidewalk.

The Committee discussed the installation of the bike racks. Mr. Mele advised that the Town is requesting that bike racks be included in new developments in Markham. The Committee questioned if the bike racks installed by the Town would be removed for the winter months.

Mr. Mele advised that the bike racks would be placed between the stores with more wall space on Main Street Markham.

The Committee felt that bike racks could be placed on Main Street Unionville in any of the following locations: 1) by the art gallery; 2) by the community centre; 3) in the park by the band stand; and, 4) by the train station. The Committee agreed that it would be more suitable to have a bike rack at the community centre than by the gallery.

Mr. Mele advised that bicycle stores and sport stores in Markham are already distributing the bicycle map. He thought that the maps could also be distributed at tourism centres in Markham. He advised that the CPAC background information would be included on the back of the map. The Committee thought that the map should include suggested bicycle destinations like biking to school or to work, a bicycle safety check list, and should exclude time sensitive information. Mr. Mele advised that the map should be finalized by the next meeting; noting that approximately 5,000 copies will be printed. It was reported that Corporate Communication has suggested that the map be placed on the Town’s website and that it be broken down into 5 sections so that residents can print the section they require.

The Committee discussed the possibility of promoting the CAN-Bike program in schools across York Region. Mr. Mele advised that the Town can only accommodate 100 participants, noting the venue itself limits the number of participants. Mr. Mele advised that one of the purposes of the program is to develop a greater number of local bike instructors. Ms. Lindsay Rosien, York Region Health Services, was requested to identifying elementary schools in Markham where the Committee could promote the CAN- Bike program. The Committee noted its future goal for the CAN-Bike program would be to apply for funding from the Trillium Foundation in order to rollout the program to all schools in Markham.

Mr. Wincy Tsang, Smart Commute 404-7, noted that the Smart Commute 404-7 program, which challenges commuters to bike to work, is for one day rather than one week.

7. TIMING OF THE MEETINGS

The Chair discussed holding future CPAC meetings on the fourth Thursday of the month. It was agreed that the next meeting of CPAC would be on April 23, 2009 in the York Room at 7:00 PM.

8. 2009 BUSINESS PLAN REVIEW (CONTINUED)

Ms. Robertson recommended that the Committee consider establishing a tandem bike program for target groups that may not otherwise have the ability to enjoy cycling. The Committee requested that this item be added to the next agenda.

9. ADJOURNMENT

The Cycling and Pedestrian Committee adjourned at 9:25 p.m.