Kinghorn Rail‐to‐Trail Initiative Feasibility Study – Final Report March 31, 2011 by with Rod Bilz, David Andersen and for Project Contacts Shaun Karsten Kinghorn Trail Project Coordinator Phone: 807‐629‐4817 Email: [email protected] Sarah Lewis Economic Development Officer, Town of Nipigon Phone: 807‐887‐3135 (ext 26) Email: [email protected] Sarah Clowes Economic Development Officer, Town of Red Rock) Phone: 807‐886‐2704 Email: [email protected] John Cameron Tourism Development Officer, City of Thunder Bay Phone: 807‐625‐3231 Email: [email protected] Kirsten Spence Ontario Trails Coordinator, Trans Canada Trail s Phone: 705‐746‐1283 Email: [email protected] Dave Harris Reeve, Dorion Township Phone: 807‐857‐2289 Email: [email protected] Alana Bishop Councillor, Municipality of Shuniah Phone: (807) 977‐1436 Email: [email protected] Rick MacLeod Farley Principal Consultant, MacLeod Farley & Associates Phone: 519‐370‐2332 E‐mail: [email protected] Kinghorn Rail‐to‐Trail Feasibility Study – Final Report March 31, 2011 Contents 1. Executive Summary.......................................................................................................... 1 2. Trail Initiative Context ..................................................................................................... 5 2.1 The Proponents – Nipigon to Thunder Bay ..................................................................... 7 2.2 The Trans‐Canada Trail................................................................................................... 8 2.3 Trail Towns and Business Attraction, Retention & Expansion (BARE) ............................ 9 2.4 North of Superior Regional Tourism Evaluation ........................................................... 11 2.5 Thunder Bay Tourism .................................................................................................... 16 3. Trails Research............................................................................................................... 20 3.1 Best Practice in Destination Trails Development & Marketing..................................... 20 3.2 Studies of Trail Economic Impacts and BARE Results ................................................... 26 3.3 Trail Cost Norms – Construction & Operations............................................................. 33 3.4 Trail Governance & Management Best Practice........................................................... 37 4. Project Concept for the Lake Superior Terry Fox Courage Trail....................................... 41 4.1 Inspiration & Direction.................................................................................................. 41 4.2 Trail Type & Uses........................................................................................................... 45 4.3 The Route ...................................................................................................................... 48 4.4 Trail Governance & Management ................................................................................ 71 5. Feasibility Factors – Findings and Assesments................................................................ 82 5.1 People – Our Findings & Assessment............................................................................ 82 5.2 Place – Our Findings & Assessment .............................................................................. 91 5.3 Market – our findings and assessment....................................................................... 101 5.4 Financials – Our Projections & Assessment ................................................................ 109 6. Feasibility Assessment Conclusion ............................................................................... 122 7. Next Recommended Steps ........................................................................................... 123 8. Annex .......................................................................................................................... 124 GAP Trail Towns Brochure....................................................................................................... 125 Newspaper Article – The Unexpected Growth of Business … ................................................. 132 MacLeod Farley & Associates page ii Kinghorn Rail‐to‐Trail Feasibility Study – Final Report March 31, 2011 1. Executive Summary The potential Kinghorn Rail Trail project is being pursued by Nipigon, Red Rock, Dorion, Shuniah and Thunder Bay. These five communities initiated this Feasibility Study as well as a bridge engineering study which will take place this spring to assess the existing bridges along the route. The five noted communities have established an Ad Hoc committee and a Working Group to pursue the project. MacLeod Farley & Associates were hired to undertake a Feasibility Study in February and March 2011. The proposed Kinghorn Rail Trail is envisioned as part of the Trans Canada Trail which is scheduled to stretch from the Atlantic to the Pacific by 2017. For the local communities and the region, the potential Kinghorn Rail Trail could become a significant asset for tourism, recreation, health and for business attraction, retention and expansion. The Feasibility Study Assignment Our feasibility assessment work consisted of three steps as follows: Step One: Orientation and Initial Research Step Two: Concept Development Step Three: Feasibility Assessment Step One was completed on schedule on February 26. This included an Initial Research Report dated February 25, 2011. Step Two (Concept Development) was completed on schedule on March 12. Concept development is central to our approach. We understood the initial concept to be the potential establishment of a trail on the existing CN rail bed which could become part of the Trans Canada Trail system and which would generate economic development benefits. Within our assignment, we have spent a considerable focus on joint concept development with the proponents and involved parties. This has resulted in an exciting and worthwhile project concept. The work on Step Two included tours of the proposed Kinghorn trail on February 28, project planning sessions and ‘Open House’ events in Nipigon on March 1, and in Thunder Bay on March 2, project meetings on March 3, 2011 and follow‐up concept development work. Step Two led to the current project concept designed to create a ‘destination trail’ capable of attracting trail users from considerable distances in order to maximize benefits for business attraction, retention and expansion and for broader community economic development. Step Three began on March 14, 2011 and is now complete. This work has included an extensive review of existing trails and case studies, further work on concept development, and viability assessment of people, place, markets and financials. The project concept has been deemed viable in all four respects and overall. This Final Feasibility Study report is the final deliverable required for this assignment. MacLeod Farley & Associates page 1 Kinghorn Rail‐to‐Trail Feasibility Study – Final Report March 31, 2011 Preamble to the Project Concept The Terry Fox Courage Highway from Nipigon to Thunder Bay marks the final steps in Terry Fox’s courageous Marathon of Hope in 1980. The final steps of Terry’s run took place on September 1, 1980 in Shuniah Township, just east of the Terry Fox Monument & Tourist Information Centre which overlooks Lake Superior. In helping to develop the project concept for the Kinghorn Rail Trail from Nipigon to Thunder Bay it struck the authors of this report that there could be no greater inspiration, and no more suitable namesake, than Terry Fox. This idea was proposed during the Joint Planning Sessions the week of February 28 – March 4 in Nipigon and Thunder Bay. The idea was warmly and respectfully received and the concept was then jointly developed further by all those involved. Establishing this proposed rail trail in honour and celebration of Terry Fox can only be pursued, over time, with the approval of the Terry Fox Foundation and with the approval of Terry’s mother Betty Fox. The Project Concept developed thus far is subject to changes and improvements by the proponents over time. No single element or aspect of the project concept is ‘set in stone’. Project Concept: The Lake Superior Terry Fox Courage Trail The Lake Superior Terry Fox Courage Trail is conceived as a destination trail venue that will celebrate the legacy of Terry Fox and help raise funds for the Terry Fox Foundation. Year round, the trail users from far and wide will be inspired and educated through signage, activities, programming and events. The trail will also celebrate the heritage of Lake Superior and have a considerable impact on growing existing businesses and establishing new ones throughout the trail region. The Terry Fox themed trail experience design, signage and marketing will create demand for guests to come use the trail throughout the year. Users will enjoy the inspiration, education and active trail use at any time they choose to visit and in whatever manner mode is appropriate from non‐motorized summer and assisted accessibility use in the summer (walk, hike, motorized scooter, stroller, run, bike, horseback, etc.) to winter snowmobile use (east of the Mackenzie River). In addition to providing a major link in the Trans Canada Trail, the Lake Superior Terry Fox Courage Trail will provide important linkages to other existing trails and loops (such as the