Municipality of Chatham-Kent Ontario, Canada www.chatham-kent.ca Chatham-Kent Trails Master Plan FINAL REPORT Contract No. P-07-55 | September 2009 TransActive Solutions Chatham-Kent Trails Master Plan | Design Guidelines B MMM Group Limited | November 2008 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Chatham-Kent Trails Master Plan is the product of dedicated work by many people. This plan was developed by a Steering Committee and a Consultant Team and was shaped by all those who participated in its creation. The Consultant Team would like to thank the Municipality of Chatham-Kent for the opportunity to develop the Chatham- Kent Trails Master Plan, and would like to extend our sincere appreciation to members of staff, the Steering Committee and the public who gave their time and energy in the development of this plan, especially those who provided input at various points throughout the project. STEERING COMMITTEE MEMBERS Tom Beaton, D.H.T., CMM1 Manager, Parks, Cemeteries & Horticulture Community (Project Manager) Services Division, Municipality of Chatham-Kent Marsha Coyne, MCIP, RPP Senior Planner, Planning Services, Municipality of Chatham Kent Nelson Cavacas, C.E.T. Manager, Engineering and Transportation Division, Municipality of Chatham Kent Joy Sim Tourism Development Coordinator, Municipality of Chatham Kent Laurel Cammaart Chatham-Kent Public Health Councilor Karen Herman Chatham-Kent Municipal Council Ward 2 - South Kent Rick Gray Chatham-Kent Trails Council (President) Paul Gardiner Cycle Chatham-Kent (President) John te Sligte South Kent Trails Association Diane Flook South Kent Trails Association Paul Roy Rotary Sunrise, Mitchell’s Bay Charles Masefi eld Wallaceburg Trails Association PROJECT CONSULTANT TEAM Dave McLaughlin MCIP, RPP MMM Group Limited (Consultant Project Manager) Jay Cranstone, OALA, CSLA MMM Group Limited, Senior Landscape Architect Melissa Cameron, OALA CSLA MMM Group Limited, Landscape Architect, GIS Specialist Michael Haynes TransActive Solutions (Director) Chatham-Kent Trails Master Plan i MMM Group Limited and TransActive Solutions | Final Report September 2009 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION .......................................................................1-1 1.1 Trails in Chatham-Kent .................................................................................................1-1 1.1.1 Policy Context ...................................................................................................1-2 1.2 What is a Master Plan? ..................................................................................................1-3 1.3 The Study Process ........................................................................................................1-3 1.4 Organization of this Report ...........................................................................................1-5 2.0 THE NEED FOR A TRAILS MASTER PLAN ............................2-1 2.1 Keeping Pace with the Demand for Trails ....................................................................2-2 2.2 Vision of the Plan ...........................................................................................................2-2 2.3 Goal and Objectives .......................................................................................................2-3 2.4 The Benefi ts of Trails in Chatham-Kent ........................................................................2-3 2.4.1 Active Lifestyles-Healthy Citizens ....................................................................2-3 2.4.2 A Greener Chatham-Kent ..................................................................................2-4 2.5 Economic Development and Tourism ...........................................................................2-5 2.5.1 The Role of Trails in Chatham-Kent’s Tourism Strategy .................................2-6 3.0 LEARNING FROM CHATHAM-KENT’S CITIZENS ..................3-1 3.1 Consulting Other Stakeholders .....................................................................................3-1 3.2 On Line Survey ...............................................................................................................3-1 3.2.1 Survey Results ...................................................................................................3-2 3.3 Public Open House ........................................................................................................3-9 4.0 THE TRAIL NETWORK PLAN .................................................4-1 4.1 Introduction ....................................................................................................................4-1 4.2 Network Development Process .....................................................................................4-1 4.3 Inventory and Analysis ..................................................................................................4-2 4.4 Guiding Principles for Route Selection ........................................................................4-6 4.4.1 Planning and Design ..........................................................................................4-6 4.4.2 Cultural Heritage ................................................................................................4-7 4.4.3 Economic Development and Tourism...............................................................4-7 4.4.4 Natural Heritage and Environment ...................................................................4-7 4.4.5 Risk Management and Asset Management ......................................................4-8 Chatham-Kent Trails Master Plan i MMM Group Limited and TransActive Solutions | Final Report September 2009 4.5 The Trail Network Hierarchy ..........................................................................................4-9 4.5.1 Municipal-wide Spine Trails ..............................................................................4-9 4.5.2 Local Trails .......................................................................................................4-10 4.5.3 Special Use Trails ............................................................................................4-11 4.6 The Recommended Trail Network ...............................................................................4-12 4.6.1 The Trans Canada Trail and the Tecumseh Parkway .....................................4-13 5.0 TRAIL DESIGNER’S TOOLBOX...............................................5-1 5.1 About these Guidelines .................................................................................................5-1 5.1.1 How to Use These Guidelines ...........................................................................5-1 5.2 Trail Users and Needs ....................................................................................................5-2 5.2.1 Pedestrians ........................................................................................................5-2 5.2.2 Cyclists ...............................................................................................................5-4 5.2.3 In-Line Skaters, Skateboarders and Non-Motorized Scooter Users...............5-5 5.2.4 All Terrain Vehicles ............................................................................................5-5 5.2.5 Equestrians ........................................................................................................5-6 5.3 General Design Parameters...........................................................................................5-7 5.4 Accessibility ................................................................................................................5-10 5.5 Personal Security .........................................................................................................5-12 5.6 Trail Lighting ................................................................................................................5-13 5.7 Trail Types ....................................................................................................................5-13 5.7.1 Multi-use Trails .................................................................................................5-13 5.7.2 Boulevard Multi-use Trails ..............................................................................5-19 5.7.3 Rails with Trails ................................................................................................5-21 5.7.4 Water Routes ....................................................................................................5-22 5.7.5 On-road Routes ................................................................................................5-23 5.8 Trail Crossings .............................................................................................................5-27 5.8.1 Intersection Pedestrian Signals (IPS) .............................................................5-27 5.8.2 Pedestrian Refuge Islands ..............................................................................5-28 5.8.3 Minor Road .......................................................................................................5-29 5.8.4 Active Railway ..................................................................................................5-31 5.8.5 Farm Crossing of Abandoned Rail Lines .......................................................5-31 5.8.6 Gates and Barriers ...........................................................................................5-32 5.9 Trail Structures for Off-road Trails ..............................................................................5-34