Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee

Tuesday, April 08, 2025 at 4:00 P.m. - 6:00 P.m.

Conestoga Room

City of Kitchener

200 King Street W, Kitchener, ON N2G 407

Present:

• W. West, Member
• L. Dramnitzki. Member
• J. Broschek, Member
• B. Forwell, Member
• J. Beech Falshaw, Member
• M. Boos, Member

Staff:

• D. Kropf, Manager, Active Transportation & Development
• L. Christensen, Project Manager, Trails
• A. Carlyle, Committee Administrator

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1.

Commencement

2.

Disclosure of Pecuniary Interest and the General Nature Thereof

3.

Delegations

3.1

Delegation from D. Johnston

D. Johnson gave an overview of issues of littering that they have noticed on the trails around the City, including the Iron Horse Trail and the Henry Strum Trail. The committee requested that this item be added to the next meeting. 

4.

Discussion Items

4.1

Report back on Pedestrian Charter

B. Cronkite gave an overview of the Pedestrian Charter and the overarching principles of the document including Accessibility and Equity. These principles are also incorporated into the City's Complete Streets Guide, Vision Zero program, and will help guide the update to the Transportation Master Plan which has recently started.

4.2

Complete Streets Update - 2027 Complete Streets List

D. Kropf presented the 2027 Complete Streets list and reviewed the process that the Complete Streets subcommittee has previously used to review the Complete Streets list. The Safety subcommittee agreed to review the list and provide recommendations and issues for staff to consider as they begin the designs for these projects.

2027 Complete Streets List: 

FAIRFIELD AVE – (MARGARET AVE E TO RIDGEWOOD AVE)

SPADINA (BELMONT TO PATRICIA)

RUSHOME (WESTMOUNT TO DUNBAR)

CHELSEA RD (SUFFOLK TO BELLEVIEW)

CHARLES/SHELDON – (OTTAWA TO PRESTON/CHARLES TO KING)

SHADYWOOD CRES – (FOREST HILL DR TO END)

HERBERT AVE (PINE TO CITY OF WATERLOO)

HEIT LANE (DUKE TO WEBER) (Laneway)

4.3

Trail Paving 2025

L. Christensen introduced the trail upgrades that are being done in 2025:

• Trail behind Resurrection Drive
• Filsinger Park from Victoria Street to Monte Carlo Street
• Filsinger Park from the Bridge north to Victoria Street
• Lions Park
• Carlyle Park 
• Sandrock Creek Greenway (between Queen Street and McGarry Drive)
• Line painting on Victoria Street MUP

Trails being paved in 2025 will all be winter maintained going forward, which is the standard for paved trails in Kitchener. There was a request for a raised crossing on Monte Carlo Street - considering the steep grade on the trail being paved, it can be hard for bicycles to stop. 

4.4

Bike Day in DTK

D. Kropf reviewed plans for the June 7th event 'Bike Day in DTK'. The event will run from 1pm-5pm. Activities are still being finalized but we are hoping to include: 

• A ribbon-cutting and official opening for the Downtown Cycling Grid
• A 'street party' on Water Street with music and a food option
• Learn to Ride 
• A Scavenger Hunt around the Downtown Grid
• Neuron demos 
• Bike decorating (and photo booth?)
• Themed rides (ex. a Sweet Treats Ride)

The committee is asked to save the date as we will need a number of volunteers to make this work. 

4.5

Discussion on CycleWR bike parking

This discussion was pushed to a future meeting to accommodate absent members. 

4.6

Ontario Bike Summit Attendee

The committee was given an opportunity for one member to attend the Ontario Bike Summit which will take place in Windsor in May. No committee members are able to attend. 

4.7

Next Steps for subcommittees

Members of the committees broke into the three subcommittees to discuss what they would like to accomplish this term and how they will work together.

5.

Information Items

5.1

Staff Updates

The Neuron program relaunched for 2025 on April 1st. Stations were added on the new bike infrastructure on Duke St and East Avenue.

GRT has released their Business Plan. Visit engagewr.ca for the most recent information and how to get involved. 

6.

Adjournment