1 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................... 1 1.1 Vision and Objectives .................................................................................. 1 1.2 Anticipated Users ......................................................................................... 2 1.3 Report Structure ........................................................................................... 3 2.0 STAKEHOLDER AND PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT ....................................... 5 2.1 Engagement Strategy .................................................................................. 5 2.2 Input from Stakeholders and the Public ....................................................... 6 3.0 ROUTE AND FACILITY SELECTION PROCESS ...................................... 7 3.1 MTO Route Selection Methodology ............................................................. 7 3.2 OTM Book 18 Facility Selection Process .................................................. 10 3.3 Proposed Facility Types for the Voyageur Cycling Route ......................... 11 3.4 Data Sources ............................................................................................. 17 4.0 THE VOYAGEUR CYCLING ROUTE ....................................................... 19 4.1 Ministry of Transportation Ontario (MTO) Route Planning Studies ........... 20 4.2 Section A: Coniston to Hagar (Map #1) ..................................................... 22 4.3 Section B: Hagar to Noelville (Map #1) ..................................................... 23 4.4 Section C: Noelville to Lavigne (Map #1) .................................................. 23 4.5 Section D: Lavigne to Sturgeon Falls (Map #2) ......................................... 24 4.6 Section E: Sturgeon Falls to North Bay (Map #2) ..................................... 26 4.7 Section F: North Bay to Callander (Map #3) ............................................. 26 4.8 Section G: Callander to Bonfield (Map #4) ................................................ 27 4.9 Section H: Bonfield to Mattawa (Map #4) .................................................. 28 4.10 Section I: Mattawa to Bissett Creek (Map #5) ........................................... 29 ` 2 August 2015 4.11 Section J: Bissett Creek to Deep River (Map #6) ...................................... 30 4.12 Summary of Existing Conditions ................................................................ 31 4.13 Alternatives to Hwy 17 ............................................................................... 32 5.0 COMMUNITY BENEFITS .......................................................................... 33 5.1 Community Benefits & Impacts.................................................................. 37 5.2 Economic Benefits ..................................................................................... 37 5.3 Tourism Benefits ........................................................................................ 41 5.4 Health & Fitness Benefits .......................................................................... 43 5.5 Safety Benefits ........................................................................................... 44 5.6 Transportation Benefits .............................................................................. 45 5.7 Environmental Benefits .............................................................................. 46 6.0 GOVERNANCE STRUCTURE .................................................................. 49 6.1 Implementation and Operation Models ...................................................... 49 6.2 How Trail Organizations Raise Resources ................................................ 51 6.3 Recommendations ..................................................................................... 53 6.4 Sample Organizational Scenario ............................................................... 54 6.5 Additional Considerations .......................................................................... 55 6.6 Funding Sources ........................................................................................ 56 7.0 IMPLEMENTATION PLAN ........................................................................ 59 7.1 Phase 1: Coniston to Mattawa ................................................................... 59 7.2 Phase 2: Mattawa to Deep River ............................................................... 62 7.3 Risk Management and Liability .................................................................. 63 8.0 CONCLUSION ........................................................................................... 65 Pomeroy Consulting 3 APPENDICES APPENDIX A: PUBLIC CONSULTATION MATERIALS APPENDIX B: INPUT RECEIVED THROUGH PUBLIC CONSULTATION APPENDIX C: CYCLING ROUTE SELECTION TOOL APPENDIX D: ROUTE SELECTION RESULTS APPENDIX E: MTO ROUTE PLANNING STUDIES APPENDIX F: BENEFITS CASE STUDIES APPENDIX G: ONTARIO’S TOURISM REGIONAL ECONOMIC IMPACT MODEL APPENDIX H: TRAIL ORGANIZATION PROFILES APPENDIX I: TRAIL GOVERNANCE REFERENCES APPENDIX J: PROJECT MANAGEMENT ABBREVIATIONS AADT Average Annual Daily Traffic CRST The MTO Cycling Route Selection Tool DRTO Discovery Routes Trails Organization MOA Memorandum of Agreement MTO Ontario Ministry of Transportation OTM Ontario Traffic Manual PIC Public Information Centre RTO Regional Tourism Organization TCT Trans Canada Trail TREIM Tourism Regional Economic Impact Model VCR Voyageur Cycling Route ` 4 August 2015 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS The Voyageur Cycling Route Feasibility Study and Implementation Plan was made possible by funding from Industry Canada / FedNor, the Ontario Government and regional partners including City of North Bay, Municipality of West Nipissing, Mattawa-Bonfield Economic Development Corporation, Sudbury East Board of Trade, Municipality of Callander and Municipality of East Ferris. The study team would like to express their appreciation to the following partner organizations represented in the Voyageur Cycling Route Working Group (VCRWG), as well as many other stakeholders and members of the public including representatives from the First Nations. Members of the VCRWG Study Team Members Municipality of West Nipissing Dave McLaughlin Senior Project Manager & Partner Municipality of French River MMM Group City of North Bay Parks & Recreation D’Arcy McKittrick Town of Mattawa Partner the Tourism Company Mattawa-Bonfield EDC Municipality of Callander Jay Cranstone Senior Landscape Architect & Associate Municipality of East Ferris MMM Group Nature and Outdoor Tourism Ontario (NOTO) Melissa Pomeroy Northeastern Ontario Tourism (RTO13a) Pomeroy Consulting North Bay & District Chamber of Commerce Jason Neudorf Discovery Routes Trails Organization Transportation Planner MMM Group Trans Canada Trail Foundation North Bay Parry Sound District Health Unit Cristina Valente Transportation Planner Cycling Advocates of Nipissing MMM Group Special thanks to Trans Canada Trail and the Waterfront Regeneration Trust for their input into this study. Pomeroy Consulting 1 1.0 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Vision and Objectives The Voyageur Cycling Route (VCR) concept was initiated by a group of local stakeholders who came together in 2013 to explore opportunities to develop a cycling route that would connect the Sudbury area to the Ottawa River. The vision for this initiative is to create healthier, safer communities within the study area and to grow Northeastern Ontario economically as a tourism destination for cyclists by connecting to the developing provincial cycling network . As the Province of Ontario continues to develop its cycling strategy and to build the foundation for a province-wide cycling network, a tremendous opportunity exists to bring stakeholders together from the municipal, provincial and federal level to advance the VCR. This study is the first step in realizing this vision. This study also draws on a number of past studies that have The Voyageur Cycling been done in the area. In 2002, a Route Planning Study was Route Feasibility Study undertaken for Trans Canada Trails to develop a route using report is intended to the abandoned CN corridor between North Bay and the achieve three goals: former Town of Field. This was followed by a 2008 business plan for a linear park that was to follow the abandoned CN 1. Identify a clear path to rail corridor between Capreol (north of Sudbury and Crystal achieve the VCR vision. Falls, and then a snowmobile route between Crystal Falls The recommended route, and North Bay. This project experienced challenges with the facility types and route acquisition of the rail corridor. characteristics are outlined in Sections 4 and 6 of this In 2012 Trans Canada Trail (TCT) developed a Concept Plan report; for a trail between Greater Sudbury and the City of North Bay. The VCR primarily follows the proposed TCT route in 2. Help develop partnerships this Concept Plan, with some exceptions. One of the and ultimately secure outcomes in the 2012 TCT study was an indication from the funding to implement the MTO that consideration would be given for the provision of VCR; and paved shoulders where communities had developed a plan 3. Provide an outline of an that demonstrated commitment to implementing connecting organizational structure routes. that would be well positioned to support the The VCR builds on the work of these past studies. The study ongoing success of the area for this report is also considerably larger, spanning VCR once it has been