Park and John Streets Multi-use Path
Welcome to the project page for the Park Street and John Street Multi-Use Path Connection.
The City intends to replace the existing sidewalk with a new asphalt multi-use path between the existing connections to the Iron Horse Trail on John Street, approximately 50 metres southwest of Park Street, and the Caroline Street link on Park Street, approximately 50 metres northwest of John Street.
The objective is to provide an alternative option for users of the Iron Horse Trail to cross the street at the signalized intersection using bicycle cross-rides, with the sidewalks on Park Street and John Street being replaced with multi-use-paths. Bicycle cross-rides are a fairly recent addition to a municipality’s tool-box and provides for a controlled crossing via the signalized intersection. The alignment of the Iron Horse Trail will not change but will remain as it is today, with this new addition providing a new, controlled crossing option for trail users.
These improvements were recommended as a priority project in the Transportation Master Plan 2020 Update approved by Council in April 2021.
The City has retained the local engineering firm WalterFedy to provide engineering services for the design of this project.
Details regarding the current status of this project are available on the News Feed section of this site (such as the Project Information) and will be updated as the project progresses. If interested, please take the time to view the preliminary designs and project information and provide feedback in our Comments section.
Comments
CLOSED: This discussion has concluded.
Who's Listening
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Phone 519-886-2310 Email fariha.mannan@waterloo.ca -
DW
Phone 519-576-2150 Email dweiler@walterfedy.com
A complete waste of money that changes nothing. Trail users already had the option to cross here. A safer and cheaper option would have been to make the Park/John intersection a 4-way stop, and to simply paint a crosswalk with signs. That's it.. no paving required. Take one more step by ending John St W vehicular access with bollards, and add crosswalk lights where the trail actually is. That would have been a meaningful improvement, unlike the poor compromise we were given.
The design seems to be based on the principle of sticking as close to the trail as possible and makes for a very awkward alignment. The double signal would induce more delay than waiting for gaps in traffic as per the current set up. I'd suggest either
- Pedestrian/cycle priority crossings on a raised hump with Park St narrowed to slow motor traffic
- Realign the trail to continue south on Caroline St, provide a crossing on John St W, then provide a route to rejoin the trail with a signal crossing at Park St
- Better yet on all options would be a dedicated cycle path delineated and separate to pedestrians
1. I agree with what has been said before that only having the bike crossing on half the intersection is a very bad idea.
2. Furthermore, Park St is basically a residential street with all the houses so having a signalled crossing like on Regina would be much better.
3. What would be even better (and cheaper since it wouldn't require as much rebuilding) would be to have bicycle detectors far enough back to turn on warning lights enough that cars can stop leading to bicycles not having to stop.
I cycle this crossing probably 8-12 times a week. I know I would be annoyed to have to go to the light and wait. I'd much prefer better markings at the more direct park st crossing. At the very least a pedestrian island. Should probably have the sharks teeth to indicate the trail having priority, similar to the crossing of the IHT at Union. Ideally though the Iron Horse trail should become a continuous path with raised crossings. I consistently have cars not paying attention there... It's amazing how much having to frequently stop can ruin a nice ride. Maintaining momentum on a bike isn't hard, its getting started that sucks, and keeps you in the intersection longer. Fully raised continuous trails seem reasonable along this route, since as another pointed out, this is the spine of our active transit network. Imagine being able to ride your bike all the way from Ottawa St in Kitchener to the St Jacobs Market without stopping. That's a trail a lot of people would use I am sure. Oh also, cross rides on all four parts of the intersection.
I agree with both danbrotherston and JbP regarding crossrides and a pedestrian crossing at Park St. I would add that the John St. crossing should be a pedestrian priority crossing just like the City of Kitchener has done with the rest of the trail. I would be concerned that this MUT might allow the redirection of the trail for development purposes just like what was done across the street.
3 points:
1. Please also install a push-button pedestrian signal at the main crossing of the IHT & Park. This should be the priority instead of a patchwork solution such as this. The intense volumes of traffic that this trail experiences should necessitate that this crossing also include a raised crossing, typical of other improvements done to the trail.
2. As the other comment mentions, it should be a no-brainer to install cycle-crossings on all four portions of the John & Park intersection. Otherwise, cyclists will sometimes be forced to wait for an additional signal. This trail is a treasure and we should be encouraging users with good design, not discouraging users with half-assed measures such as this.
3. This intersection presents a great opportunity to actually install a proper safe intersection. If the purpose of this intersection is to facilitate IHT users who don't feel comfortable crossing Park, then they probably also won't feel comfortable crossing the intersection in your proposed design. Please, please consider a Dutch-style intersection, typical of those now being installed in Ottawa. This trail is the spine of our entire active transportation network, so we should take care to actually make positive improvements to it!
You need to put crossrides on ALL FOUR crossing arms here.
Otherwise it is possible that a cyclist will have to wait through two complete light cycles in order to cross legally, and obviously nobody would ever do that.