Active Transportation Projects Aimed at Reducing GHG Emissions
The three projects approved by FCM include:
Brookside Drive: Fredericton’s First Complete Street;
Route 8 / College Hill Road Roundabout and AT Link
Rookwood Avenue: Trans-Canada Trail Connection.
The City of Fredericton has been successful with its application to the 2018 Municipalities for Climate Innovation Fund from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) for the feasibility and preliminary design of transportation projects that aim to reduce GHG (Green House Gas) emissions. These major active transportation gaps were all identified as part of the Active Transportation Connection Plan completed in 2016.
College Hill Road Roundabout and AT Link.
The City of Fredericton is seeking input from residents of the College Hill / Skyline Acres / Southwood Park area to determine the feasibility of constructing a roundabout on route 8 near College Hill Road, that would enable a direct connection between College Hill Road, Route 7 and Route 8, including the Dr Everett Chalmers Hospital and the Universities.
Recently unveiled plans recommend:
Improved connection between Route 7 and College Hill (including Universities and Hospital).
Trail connection to Skyline Acres through Reading Park; College Hill and University campuses; to Hospital; and the Uptown District.
The intent of this project is 2-fold from a GHG reduction standpoint. The first component is the development of a new active transportation corridor linking the Skyline Acres / Southwood Park neighbhourhoods of the City across Route 8 (Provincial High-speed divided highway) with major destinations including two Universities, Schools, Regional Hospital, and shopping districts in the Uptown. This link would be facilitated through the proposed College Hill Roundabout. This long desired AT connection would enable a safe and efficient trail connection for increased mode share. The second component is to improve access between Route 7, Route 8 and College Hill which could significantly reduce vehicle travel distances and congestion which helps reduce GHGs. The City of Fredericton will work with the Department of Transportation and Infrastructure with respect of the potential impacts to Route 7 and Route 8.
Completed Projects
Brookside Drive: Fredericton’s First Complete Street will explore the feasibility of enhancing Brookside Drive between Main Street and Douglas Avenue. The City of Fredericton is seeking input from residents of the area (Main Street to Ring Road) on plans for a potential major rehabilitation. Recently unveiled plans recommend:
A curb-separated cycle track; a first-of-its-kind cycling facility in the city.
A new sidewalk along both sides of lower Brookside Drive to provide full connectivity to the existing bus stops.
Trail connections to both the Northside Trail and North Riverfront Trail.
A realignment of Hawkins Street to improve sight distances.
This section of Brookside Drive currently functions as a major collector street primarily serving automobile traffic between residential areas and the commercial core of the north side (Main Street). The street currently features a narrow sidewalk and narrow discontinuous bike lanes. The street is serviced by transit; however, the transit stops are not accessible and as previously mentioned sidewalk is only available on one side of the street resulting in disconnected transit stops. The Study will explore how to improve facilities for pedestrians, cyclists and transit.
Rookwood Avenue: Trans-Canada Trail Connection will explore the feasibility of filling several gaps within the active transportation trail network in the core of Fredericton.
The City is seeking input from residents on plans for this potential major upgrade of the active transportation network in the Sunshine Gardens / Rookwood Avenue / Wagonners Lane area, connecting downtown parks and nearby existing trails. Comments will be accepted until May 14, 2019.
The project will explore connecting the Valley Trail to the North Riverfront Trail, which forms part of the Trans-Canada Trail through the City. Secondly, an extension of this linkage to the south along Rookwood Avenue will also enable a connection from the trail system into Fredericton’s Odell Park. Thirdly, these trail linkages would result in a direct AT connection between Odell Park with Wilmot Park, which are two of the most popular parks in the City. Fourthly, the connection would improve access to transit and improve school walkability. The Study will explore the feasibility and impacts of a roundabout at Waggoner’s Lane / Rookwood Avenue to improve the safety of the existing pedestrian crossing and transit stops.