Wellesley approves transportation master plan aimed at improving roads, trails and mobility options

By Galen Simmons

Wellesley Township council has approved in principle a new transportation and mobility master plan that will guide investments in roads, active transportation infrastructure and public-transit connections over the next 25 years.

Presented to council during its May 26 committee of the whole meeting by project manager John McGill and deputy project manager Brandon Quigley of consulting firm CIMA+, the Transportation and Mobility Master Plan lays out a long-term vision for creating a safer, more connected and more accessible transportation network throughout the township.

“Through the (public) engagement activities we did, we heard a lot of different opinions and pieces of input, but a few of the themes that came out of that; one of them was really a desire for enhanced active transportation,” Quigley said. “ … We heard a lot about road safety including some specific issues throughout the township, and support for some changes and issues that can be addressed.

“ … A few other issues that kind of came up a few times through the engagement; certainly some interest in support for transit, … conditions of roads, certainly some desire around keeping in mind the rural context and the desire to maintain the small-town feel in the township, and there were some concerns as well about truck traffic.”

Developed through public engagement, traffic analysis and transportation-network planning, the master plan is intended to help the township accommodate future growth while preserving its rural character and improving travel options for residents. The plan's vision calls for a transportation system that is safe, efficient, environmentally sustainable and accessible to all users, whether travelling by vehicle, bicycle, transit or on foot.

Among the plan's key recommendations are significant investments in active transportation infrastructure over the next decade. Priority projects include nearly 14 kilometres of paved shoulders on rural roads, almost 10 kilometres of signed cycling routes, a 2.9-kilometre off-road multi-use trail, more than a kilometre of new sidewalks, 1.5 kilometres of multi-use pathways, neighbourhood bikeways and nine enhanced pedestrian crossings.

The plan also supports future expansion of public transit service into the township through planned Grand River Transit initiatives and recommends continued exploration of a truck-route bypass around Wellesley village, both of which would require coordination with the Region of Waterloo.

Traffic analysis completed as part of the study identified two regional intersections for potential future improvements – Lobsinger Line at Herrgott Road in St. Clements and Gerber Road at Nafziger Road in Wellesley village. Recommended upgrades include signalization and the addition of a westbound left-turn lane.

The master plan also identifies a number of local active-transportation projects, including new sidewalks in Hawkesville and St. Clements, a feasibility study for a multi-use path along David Street in the Village of Wellesley and an investigation into a potential off-road trail connection near Doering Street.

Implementing the short-term projects identified in the plan is expected to cost approximately $3.36 million over the next 10 years, or roughly $330,000 annually. The report notes that much of that funding is not currently included in the township's existing 10-year capital budget and would need to be incorporated into future capital plans and annual budget deliberations

“There are a lot of recommendations that are housed within the plan; some short-term, some long-term, some funded by the operating budget, some funded by capital,” township director of public works Chris Cook said. “The approval here tonight we’re seeking; we say approval in principle because this is a committee of the whole meeting so it will need to be approved finally at the next (council) meeting a couple weeks from now.

“By approving it tonight, you’re not endorsing each specific project that’s identified within. Those will come up one by one in future capital budgets for approval. There will be future engineering … on some of these, so this is really more general, it’s more strategic in nature. … There are some projects of a minor nature such as signage and things like that are recommended that we will implement through the operating budget that, essentially, you are agreeing to or approving in principle here tonight. … We won’t come back to council for those specifically.”

Specifically, some of lower-cost measures identified within the plan, including cycling-route signage, pedestrian-crossing enhancements and traffic-calming initiatives, could be funded through the township's operating budget, while larger infrastructure projects would likely be integrated into future road reconstruction and capital projects. The report also encourages the township to pursue provincial and federal grants to help offset costs.

The implementation strategy proposes completing the priority active-transportation network between 2026 and 2036, with additional sidewalks, paved shoulders and intersection improvements extending through 2051. The report also suggests additional staffing may eventually be required to support implementation of the plan's recommendations.

“There’s a lot of information in the plan,” Coun. Derek Brick said. “ … I think it addresses a lot of things that were kind of on my radar across the township, and maybe some things I wasn’t aware of. Obviously, there’s a lot of different things in there and I think it does reflect our community and kind of the changes, but also the needs now.”

Council's approval in principle allows the plan to move forward for a 30-day public review period before returning to council for final consideration. To see the master plan in full and provide feedback, visit www.engagewr.ca/transportation-and-mobility-master-plan.