Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path Alignment Report Version 3 Tue, 8 Mar 2016 Page 1 Commercial in Recommendations Report.DOCX of 45 Confidence Alignment Recommendations – Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path Executive Summary The Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path (the Bike Path) was identified as an opportunity in 1996 from a feasibility study for an Eastern Rail Trail initiated by stakeholders, including City of Whitehorse. In 2010 the local bicycle group produced a report detailing and costing route options for the rail trail, and rallied support with the local community (including a petition of more than 4,000 signatures), Members of Parliament and City of Whitehorse. In 2012 a Business Case was prepared and the government announced more than $10 million to fund construction of the bike path. In the May 2015/16 State budget, the Government confirmed that funding of $14.8 million is allocated to the project. Further to this funding, level crossing removal projects along the corridor have contributed positive outcomes to the connectivity of the Bike Path. There are no Australian standards for bicycle paths, only guidelines to assist with consistency in design. Desirable levels have been provided where possible; however it is key to note that the guidelines intend the use of Context Sensitive Design, allowing flexibility in brown-fields location where designs are heavily constrained by existing development. The key to design is to balance the Bike Path project’s needs with the many inputs received, to arrive at the most appropriate solution in consideration of user safety, project objectives, stakeholder needs, community opinion, conformance with design guidelines and project scope and budget. This report presents VicRoads’ final proposed alignment following significant design and investigations, stakeholder and community involvement, and consideration of feedback. Other alignment options are available; however they will provide path users a lower level of service. This report seeks support, endorsement and approvals from Whitehorse and Maroondah City Councils as specifically recommended throughout the report regarding: The preferred route for the entire bike path alignment; The bike path being located on Council owned or managed land, roads and reservations; Council become the maintenance authority for the Bike Path for relevant sections of the path. Council entering into VicTrack Licence Agreements for the sections of path on VicTrack land. Support for the recommendations in this report will enable the Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path Project to move toward into detailed design and construction so that the project can be completed for the community in 2017. Page 2 of 45 Table of Contents Executive Summary 2 Table of Contents 3 Figures 5 Document Information 6 Document Approval 6 Document Control 6 0. Introduction 7 0.1. Purpose of this Document 7 0.2. Project Objectives 7 0.3. History of the Project 7 0.4. Locality Plan 8 0.5. Roles 8 0.6. Design Philosophy and Documents 9 0.7. Design Criteria 10 0.7.1. General Principles and Requirements 10 0.7.2. Civil Design 10 0.8. Options Assessments 12 0.9. Community and Stakeholder Engagement 13 0.10. Maintenance 14 0.11. Supporting Documents 14 1. Box Hill Section 15 1.1. Overview 15 1.2. Section 1A – Linsley Street to Sagoe Lane - Complete15 1.3. Section 1B – Sagoe Lane to Middleborough Road 15 1.4. Recommendation 17 2. Laburnum Section 18 2.1. Overview 18 2.2. Option 1 – North of the Rail Corridor 18 2.3. Option 2 – South of the Rail Corridor 21 2.4. Option 3 – Hybrid North and South Side Combination 24 Page 3 of 45 QD 3319118 2.5. Option Costs 24 2.6. Preferred Option 25 2.7. Recommendation 25 3. Blackburn Section 26 3.1. Overview 26 3.2. Option 1 – North of the Rail Corridor 26 3.3. Option 2 – South of the Rail Corridor 27 3.4. Option 3 – Hybrid 27 3.5. Option Costs 28 3.6. Preferred Option 28 3.7. Recommendation 29 4. Nunawading Section 30 4.1. Overview 30 4.2. Preferred Option 31 4.3. Recommendation 33 5. Mitcham Section 34 5.1. Overview 34 5.2. Recommendation 34 6. Heatherdale Section 35 6.1. Overview 35 6.2. Preferred Option 36 6.3. Recommendation 37 7. Ringwood Section 38 7.1. Overview 38 7.2. Preferred Option 39 7.3. Recommendation 40 8. Appendices 41 Page 4 of 45 QD 3319118 Figures Figure 1 – Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path Locality Plan ........................................................... 8 Figure 2 – Box Hill Section Alignment ...................................................................................... 15 Figure 3 – Box Hill Section – Path Alignment without Encroachment on Whitehorse Reserve ................................................................................................................................................. 16 Figure 4 – Box Hill Section – Grade line on Approach to Middleborough Road ...................... 17 Figure 5 – Laburnum Section Alignment .................................................................................. 18 Figure 6 – Existing Sharrows in Whitehorse ............................................................................ 19 Figure 7 – Laburnum Section – Possible Gateway Style Treatment for Railway Road .......... 20 Figure 8 – Blackburn Station Northern Forecourt Schematic .................................................. 21 Figure 9 – Blackburn Station Southern Forecourt Schematic.................................................. 23 Figure 10 - Blackburn Section Alignment ................................................................................. 26 Figure 11 – Nunawading Section Alignment ............................................................................ 30 Figure 12 – Nunawading Section – Impact on one car park along Walkers Rd ...................... 31 Figure 13 – Nunawading Section – Reallocation of Kerbside Parking at East End of Walkers Rd ............................................................................................................................................. 32 Figure 14 – Heatherdale Section Alignment ............................................................................ 35 Figure 15 – Heatherdale Section – Brunswick Park Impact .................................................... 36 Figure 16 – Ringwood Section Alignment ................................................................................ 38 Tables Table 1 – Cross Section Element Criteria ................................................................................ 10 Table 2 – Clearance Requirements ......................................................................................... 11 Table 3 – Minimum Radii Values ............................................................................................. 11 Table 4 – Vertical Grades Values ............................................................................................ 11 Table 5 – Minimum Vertical Curve Lengths ............................................................................. 12 Table 6 – Sight Distance Criteria ............................................................................................. 12 Table 7 – Stopping Sight Distance Criteria .............................................................................. 12 Table 8 – Laburnum Section – Options Assessment ............................................................... 25 Table 9 – Blackburn Section – Options Assessment ............................................................... 29 Table 10 - Nunawading Section – Options Assessment .......................................................... 32 Table 11 – Heatherdale Section – Options Assessment ......................................................... 37 Table 12 – Ringwood Section – Options Assessment ............................................................. 40 Page 5 of 45 QD 3319118 Document Information Criteria Details Document ID: 3319118 Document Alignment Recommendations – Box Hill to Ringwood Bike title: Path Document Eastern Projects owner: Version: 3 Issue date: 8 March 2016 Document Approval This document requires the following approval: Name/Position Action Signature Date Craig Allan Recommend Team Leader Projects David Lewis Recommend Manager Project Delivery Frank De Santis Approve Project Director Eastern Projects Document Control Version Name Date 1 Final Draft 18 Feb 2016 2 Final Draft 2 24 Feb 2016 3 Final 8 Mar 2016 Page 6 of 45 QD 3319118 0. Introduction The Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path (the Bike Path) will see the development and construction of a 10 kilometre walking and cycling connection, including a combination of off-road shared use paths for cyclists and pedestrians, as well as on-road bike facilities. The path will run for most of its length within the Belgrave/Lilydale rail line reservation. 0.1. Purpose of this Document The purpose of this document is to provide Council with a clear and concise discussion on the process undertaken by VicRoads to reach a preferred alignment for the Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path, and provide subsequent recommendations to Council. The alignment has been determined with consideration of input from numerous stakeholders, community feedback, design experts and conformance with guidelines and meeting of project objectives. Further detailed investigations, stakeholder interactions, designs and approvals will be undertaken once the path alignment is confirmed. 0.2. Project Objectives The key objectives of the Box Hill to Ringwood Bike Path project are: To improve connectivity to local communities and services along