FAQs

The primary objective of reconstructing Sixth Street is for the installation of a transmission watermain to improve water supply and pressure to the west end of Collingwood.   The existing distribution watermain is undersized and will be replaced, along with the existing sanitary and storm sewer.  

This is a Generational project – The new cross-section will look very different and will transform the street into one that we hope will encourage active movement as the preferred means of transportation throughout Town.

This project was initiated for water infrastructure needs and renewal of all infrastructure is part of responsible long-term asset management planning.

This is a Generational project – The new cross-section will look very different and will transform the street into one that we hope will encourage active movement as the preferred means of transportation throughout Town.

The new OTM (Ontario Traffic Manuel) Book 18 guidelines recommend when the average daily traffic volumes are above 5,000 vehicles per day, that a physically separated bikeway be installed such as a separated bike lane, multiuse path, or cycle track.   Sixth Street currently has approximately 7,500 vehicles per day.  

Sixth Street was identified as an east-west cycling in the Collingwood Cycling Plan because of the existing signalized intersections at Hurontario Street and High Street. Sixth Street connects to the trail system on the west end and Hamilton Street leading to Central Park and the Train Trail on the east end.

Sixth Street was identified as an east-west cycling in the Collingwood Cycling Plan because of the existing signalized intersections at Hurontario Street and High Street. Sixth Street connects to the trail system on the west end and Hamilton Street leading to Central Park and the Train Trail on the east end.

There are thirty-six (36) boulevard trees that will be removed as part of the project to accommodate the new "one way" cycle track on the north side of the street.  More trees may need to be removed when individual services are installed to each property depending on location, however every effort will be made to save as many trees as possible.

The arborist report concluded that six (6) trees had a rating of ‘Good’, fourteen (14) had a rating of ‘Good-Fair & Fair’, and nineteen (19) had a ‘Fair-Poor & Poor’ rating.  Approximately half of the Town owned trees were rated in the ‘Fair-Poor & Poor’ rating, species diversity is love and the streetscape is dominated by Silver and Norway Maples, neither of which is recommended for the location.  Most of the trees don’t have critical reasons for removal, however those that are in poor health will have less resilience to construction impacts, which may accelerate their decline.

Council directed staff to replace at a minimum of 2:1 or as determined using a science-based calculation to ensure that the net environmental benefit of the removed trees is not lost.

As the design progresses and staff and the consultants move through the detailed design, a tree replacement strategy will be brought back to Council in the fall of 2024

Utility relocation work could start as early as 2025 and construction is scheduled for 2026 and 2027.   Construction will start at the Hurontario & Sixth Street intersection and proceed west.  Phase 1 (Hurontario to Oak) will be completed in 2026 and Phase 2 (Oak Street to High Steet) will be completed in 2027.

The new cross section will transform the street into one that we hope will encourage active movement as the preferred means of transportation throughout Town.

A public information center was held on May 31 2023 at the Collingwood Library.  Staff then provided an update to Council in September 2023 , Council provided a motion to revisit the recommended design with the implementation of cycle tracks in October 2023.  In May 2024 Staff provided another update to Council highlighting the challenges of the cycle track option, mainly the removal of existing trees in the north boulevard area.  The engineering consultants also hand delivered notices to residents along Sixth Street ahead of the public meeting  in September 2023.

The project is still at the beginning stages of design.  In fact, Staff reviewed 5 designs with Council in Sept 2023 and recommended one.  Council made a decision to support the design with one way cycle tracks in Oct 2023.  Following this direction, Staff came back to Council in XX, 2024 to share what the design will look like.  With Council's recent decision, Staff are moving forward to complete the engineering in 2024, so utility relocations can start in 2025.

The arborist report concluded that six (6) trees had a rating of ‘Good’, fourteen (14) had a rating of ‘Good-Fair & Fair’, and nineteen (19) had a ‘Fair-Poor & Poor’ rating.  Approximately half of the Town owned trees were rated in the ‘Fair-Poor & Poor’ rating, species diversity is love and the streetscape is dominated by Silver and Norway Maples, neither of which is recommended for the location.  Most of the trees don’t have critical reasons for removal, those that are in poor health will have less resilience to construction impacts, which may accelerate their decline.