A. Carlyle introduced the project, which is identified in the City’s Strategic Plan. The purpose is to encourage increased use of active transportation that connects neighbourhoods. There are 8 proposed routes that connect the Level 1 neighbourhoods. New names and brands for the routes would be added on the existing signs that City uses, including directional wayfinding signs and a “subway style” orientation map. The routes would consist of “all ages and abilities” infrastructure. The first route to be signed is Boardwalk – Downtown. Public engagement is underway.
Committee members comments on the route map included:
- The destinations make sense and need connectivity. The proposed routes achieve the goal.
- A good start. Some of the destinations will be very hard to connect to. E.g. Sportsworld
- Suggest that these routes be winter maintained.
- Will help with navigation a lot
- Important to connect key community assets through trails network. Need to look at destinations that are just off the main trail routes.
B. Forwell asked if the adjacent municipalities will be included in this work. A. Carlyle responded that they are aware of this work. D. Kropf added that wayfinding is a lower tier responsibility so the Region will defer to the City on routes on Regional roads.
On the proposed wayfinding signs, committee members noted:
- Make the font of Henry Sturm Trail larger because it is really helpful to orient where you are.
- The name of the trail is helpful when you know where you are.
- The word “caution” seems to imply construction. Could be clearer on the intention there. It could be more an alert to consider it.
- how does the signage work when there are multiple routes?
- The proposed signs have hit maximum info so can’t add a lot more.
- It’s a really positive improvement.
For the engagement phase, committee members encouraged staff to reach out to neighbourhood associations and to survey active users while they are using the trail.