Moving Windsor forward: transportation plan moves to next steps

Walk Wheel Windsor, the city's Active Transportation Master Plan, got a boost at Monday's city council meeting.

Since August, thousands of comments and suggestions from city residents have shaped the plan and council Monday voted to move forward to the next stage.

"I can't remember leaving council feeling so light," said cycling advocate Lori Newton. Newton has fought for cycling accessibility in Windsor for many years and heads the Bike Windsor-Essex organization.

The plan's goal is to increase use of active transportation from the current 10 per cent use to 20 per cent by 2031. 

Newton recognizes the plan is "high-level."

"The details are not nailed down yet," said Newton. "It provides a vision for moving forward.

Some of the specifics that need to be hammered out are identifying what Newton calls spines, major routes through the city for walking, cycling and public transit.

The transportation plan covers all three, and Newton says it wouldn't be fair to criticize any aspect of the plan at this point.

"We're looking at a 20 to 30 year plan," said Newton. 

One thing Newton would like to see happen next is clearly defined goals, separated into each mode of transportation.

"There's no question that they require different strategies so the goals should be clear and they should be different," said Newton.

Josette Eugeni, manager of transportation planning for the city, says the plan is the "next steps," and that last night was just about asking council to endorse the goals.

"The report indicates the goals are fairly ambitious and it would require some additional resources, funding, to achieve those goals," said Eugeni.

Cycling advocate Lori Newton spoke to Windsor Morning about what council's decision means:

Newton is also concerned about funding for infrastructure.

"Transit has funding right now, cycling does not have funding right now," said Newton. "There are tremendous infrastructure costs and we don't have budgets set aside for cycling and walking."

Eugeni says the study is still in progress.

"The consultant will use the goals to finalize the plan," said Eugeni, adding that more public consulation will be asked for. According to Eugeni, the next step is to work on the actions and finalize the study. 

Bike Windsor-Essex does not have a formal role in the active transportation plan, but Newton hopes to "cheer lead" the plan into its next stage. A final report is due Fall 2019.