Archive

Trans Canada Trail belongs on off–road right–of–way

April 3, 2014   ·   0 Comments

Dear Mr. MacEachern and members of council, 

Our organization (previously known as Huronia Trails and Greenways) has a long history – going back to the late 80’s – with promoting the Trans Canada Trail through New Tecumseth. As such we also worked with the Town and its Public Advisory Council around the year 2000 to get consensus on solutions to address land use concerns raised by adjacent landowners.

As you may recall, there were representatives of the farming community, including from the Ontario Federation of Agriculture, on the Public Advisory Committee. The recommendations of the committee were endorsed by council at the time, and were to be implemented “in consultation with the adjacent landowners”, which is exactly what Town staff and their consultant have been doing since the fall of 2013.

While this consultation raised some new concerns that may require special attention (such as a reroute around WD Potato, and appropriate fencing at the bison farm), we strongly believe that all other concerns are for the most part no different whether the trail would be built on-road vs. off-road, and can be adequately addressed through:

• proper trail design

• fencing where needed to protect livestock

• trail maintenance including ditches

• provision of adequate off-road parking

• signage to educate trail users on proper trail etiquette through farmland (no trespassing, no interference with livestock, no littering, stay on the trail, keep dogs on leash, no pilferage, park in authorized parking spaces only, etc.) as well as on farming practices, protection of good agricultural land, opportunities for farm gate businesses, etc.

We strongly believe that the Trans Canada Trail belongs on the town-owned abandoned rail line, because the off-road route is the most cost effective, the safest, and the most attractive solution, which will encourage local residents to seek out regular physical activity (walking, biking, horseback riding) on a greenway close to home, and will attract visitors to explore the trail as well as nearby cafes, restaurants, local farm food enterprises, etc. thus contributing to the economic viability of the local municipality.

An on-road trail will not attract the same usage, because of safety aspects, and is not typically a tourist destination. Moreover, an on-road route will not qualify for considerable planning and construction funding from the Trans Canada Trail Foundation, or from the PanAm Legacy fund.

We would also like to refer you to other successful trails through farmland, such as in Chatham-Kent, Essex, City of Kawartha Lakes, Prince Edward Island, and British Columbia (as demonstrated on the BC Ministry of Agriculture and Lands website http:// www.al.gov.bc.ca/resmgmt/sf/trails/index.htm who published a comprehensive “Using and Developing Trails in Farm and Ranch Areas” guide.

While you typically have heard the concerns expressed by a minority from the farming community, you probably seldom hear from the “silent majority” in your community. As such we launched an on-line petition on March 26, which we encourage you to review. (https://www.change.org/en-CA/petitions/town-of-new-tecumseth-build-the-transcanada-trail-off-road-not-on-road). In fact, the petition is hearing from many local residents who with their vote and comments are encouraging the council of the Town of New Tecumseth, to build the trail off-road. There are also comments from cycling groups, hikers, etc. from further away, who look forward to an off-road trail extension between Tottenham and Cookstown. While the petition is ongoing, we have attached a sampling of those comments and will bring the final result to the April 7 meeting.

In closing, we ask you, Mr. Mayor and Members of Council, to stand firm in representing the majority of your voters, and authorize continued development of the Trans Canada Trail, in consultation with adjacent landowners, on the town-owned abandoned railway right-of-way.

Robb Meier

President

Simcoe County Trails

Readers Comments (0)