Expanding Active Transportation
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Summary:
- Ensure long-term sustainable funding, such as the new Active Transportation Fund, to implement active transportation infrastructure and programs.
- Increase the total amount of the Active Transportation Fund to help accelerate the implementation
Did you now that Pedestrian-friendly cities have lower rates of diabetes and obesity? (Reference: NewScientist)
Brampton is equalizing all forms of transportation and is focused on enhancing and expanding active transportation infrastructure.
- The decrease in traffic volumes along City roads due to COVID-19 lockdown measures provided a unique opportunity to implement nearly 35 km of new cycling infrastructure successfully.
- Immediately following lockdown orders in March/April 2020, the City fast-tracked the implementation of a 7 km east-west cycling corridor to provide a safe connection for people on bicycles to access essential amenities and the recreational trail network. In its first three months of operation, usage of this corridor doubled.
- The approved 2022 Capital Budget includes approximately $7.8M for active transportation.
- The City’s proposed 20-year active transportation network has been costed at a value of approximately $126.6M.
The City is currently undertaking the necessary due diligence/review to develop a design for the following inter-regional cycling connections:
- Claireville Recreational Trail South Connection – this connection is identified in the Province-wide Cycling Network (#CycleON) and will connect Brampton’s Claireville Conservation Area Trail to the Humber Valley Trail system (Toronto).
- Fletchers Creek Recreational Trail from its existing terminus at Steeles Avenue. This will connect through the Sheridan College Campus lands and a second connection into the City of Mississauga.
- Southern limit of Bramalea Road to the Bramalea GO Station. This connection will provide a much needed protected Active Transportation connection between the adjacent communities (served by the Chinguacousy/ Esker Lake and Don Doan Recreational Trails) to the regional transit station and through the existing industrial land adjacent to the north side of Steeles.
The City’s Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) recommends developing a core cycling network built around a central “signature” loop and several key eastwest routes as a short-term priority.
- The development of the signature Brampton loop (‘B’ Loop) includes trail connectivity and accessibility improvements between the Etobicoke Creek Trail, Chinguacousy Recreational Trail and Esker Lake Recreational Trail, a 38 km loop. The loop would link to Downtown Brampton, Heart Lake Conservation Area, Franceschini Bridge, Kennedy Valley/Brampton Sports Park, Bramalea Limited Community Park, Chinguacousy Park, Peel Village and several recreation centres and schools. The loop would be promoted and marketed by the City and regional partners as a safe, user-friendly route for riders of all ages and abilities.
The ATMP’s “Fix-it Program” is an implementation tactic focused on enhancing the existing network by completing critical gaps with proper pedestrian and/or cycling crossings. In 2021, the City of Brampton implemented proper crossings (pedestrian crossings, signalized crossings or uncontrolled crossings) at 21 locations where recreational trails or primary park paths intersect with existing roadways and in 2022, plan to implement an additional 20 crossings.
