Stratford City Council will be getting their hands on the draft Transportation Master Plan (TMP), a document that outlines over 50 actions that the City of Stratford can undertake to better improve transportation in the city.
The TMP represents “a significant shift in the way the transportation system is planned and constructed,” according to the report.
“It will require a significant shift in funding, with more money being spent on growing active transportation than on expanding the road network.”
The “significant shift in funding” is estimated to be a $60.7 million investment by 2041. That includes investments into the city’s streets, cycling infrastructure, and walking infrastructure.
The biggest investment is in the City’s cycling network, with a projected price tag of $37.2 million. The high-end estimate of the street investment is $16.1 million and $7.4 million is estimated for the walking infrastructure.
At the next Stratford City Council meeting on Monday, the draft TMP will be presented and a 30-day public review period will begin.
Developed by Arcadis, the new TMP is comprised of four reports: the Engagement Summary Report, Phase One Needs and Opportunities Report, Phase Two Network and Strategy Development Report, and the Transportation Master Plan Report.
The Phase One report identifies the transportation issues, needs and constraints for the City of Stratford. Phase Two identifies the preferred transportation infrastructure, policy and strategy solutions.
There are 52 recommendations outlined in the action plan, including short-term actions that will take place in 2024 to 2026 and long-term actions that go beyond 2041.
Most of the recommendations are short-term, such as the recommendation to review existing bylaws to include provisions for e-scooters and other mobility devices.
Some recommendations, like advocating the Province for the construction of a Highway 7/8 bypass, are ongoing efforts.
The plan also lists recommended street network projects and their estimated costs.
One suggestion is to close Veterans Drive permanently to cars, opening access to the park and improving recreation and active transportation opportunities. That would set back the City $250,000, as estimated in the report.
Another is to undertake intersection modifications at O’Loane Avenue at McCarthy Road and Huron Street to improve efficiency and capacity. That would be more costly, from $1.5 to $3 million.
The report notes that corridor modifications are recommended to respond to current and future traffic growth, and to support all modes of travel along the road network in the development of a multi-modal transportation system, among other benefits.
Overall, the report recommends up to $16 million in investment from the City over the next 20 years in order to implement the street network projects.
To expand the cycling network in the city, the report recommends a priority cycling network serving as a core network of safe and comfortable routes and an ultimate cycling network that represents the long-term vision for Stratford’s cycling network.
Five quick-start routes are recommended to be done first: a bicycle boulevard on Albert Street from Waterloo Street to Romeo Street, protected bike lanes on Erie Street from Ontario Street to Lorne Avenue, a bicycle boulevard with contraflow bicycle lane on Hibernia Avenue from O’Loane Avenue to Mornington Street, a bi-directional cycle track on the northside of Lakeside Drive from Waterloo Steet to Lakeside Drive North, and a multi-use pathway on Oakdale Avenue from O’Loane Avenue to Forman Avenue.
Including these quick-start routes, the total investment expected is about $37.2 million.
This draft plan has been in the works for some time.
In 2021, the City retained the services of IBI Group Professional Services Inc., now Arcadis, to develop a 20-year plan to incorporate road-based and active transportation models.
The current version of the City’s plan was completed in 2010 and a Bike and Pedestrian Master Plan was completed in 2014. Council subsequently passed a motion to update the new plan and integrate it into the Transportation Master Plan.
Now partially implemented, the City requires an integrated plan to stop any conflicts between the two plans.
With two virtual open houses and three stakeholder group meetings, about 250 online surveys were submitted and 196 interactive online responses were received as part of initial engagement.
The full report is included in the agenda package for Monday night’s regular city council meeting. It can be found here.
