Project Updates

Session will run from 6 pm to 8 pm in Community Rooms B & C on the third floor of the Collingwood Public Library, 55 Ste. Marie Street, Collingwood, Ontario. It will be run as an informal open house displaying the preliminary design drawings and providing an opportunity to discuss with and ask questions of Town Staff and Tatham Engineering. 

At the September 11, 2023 Council Meeting, Stuart West, Manager of Engineering Services, provided an operational update including project overview, objectives and opportunities, reviewed alternative cross sections considered, provided a visual of Alternative 2, being the preferred solution, reviewed public consultation and notices provided to date and clarification to the Municipal Class EA process. Manager West reviewed consultation feedback highlighting the desire to maintain the urban tree canopy along Sixth Street, specific drainage and driveway concerns, improved street lighting for safety, improvements to road safety, and the impacts of two-wat trails. Pedestrian and cyclist counts were reviewed, including OTM Book 18 recommendations and selection criteria to separating pedestrian and cyclists. 

Questions of Council were addressed which included trail connectivity, potential for collisions with two-way cycle and pedestrian traffic on the proposed multi-use trail, ability to raise intersection crossings and other traffic calming tools, environmental impacts between asphalt and concrete surfaces, residential parking, and ensuring it is built for future needs.

At the October 16, 2023 Council meeting Resolution RES-341-2023 was passed:

WHEREAS Sixth Street is the main east-west cycling corridor through the Town of Collingwood;

 AND WHEREAS the necessary reconstruction of Sixth Street presents opportunity for improvements to the active transportation facilities that reflect up to date best practices;

 AND WHEREAS the objective of the proposed design is to create a “complete street” that cost-efficiently preserves the existing boulevards, trees and hydro poles, while improving active transportation conveyances on both the North and South sides of the street;

 AND WHEREAS the proposed design would introduce a two-way raised cycle track on the south side of the street only, that would be shared with pedestrians;

 AND WHEREAS industry best practice is to avoid two-way cycle tracks because of the significantly increased risk of conflict with motor vehicles in situations where there are a large number of driveways and intersections as exist on Sixth Street;

 AND WHEREAS the same shared track would impact the travel experience and safety of pedestrians in that the majority of users are cyclists, and this form of transportation is likely to increase with the growing number of cyclists, plus users of scooters, e-bikes and other power-driven personal transport devices;

 THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Staff reconsider the proposed Sixth Street Reconstruction design and request staff and/or consultant provide additional information regarding the Level of Service Guidelines for the potential implementation of one way cycle tracks on the north and south sides, and a separate pedestrian sidewalk on the north side;

 AND FURTHER that the design ensure that active transportation crossings at all intersections reflect best practices which may include cycle track pavement markings, raised crosswalks or other treatments that reflect best practice and improve safety of all active transportation facilities on the reconstructed street.

At the Council meeting on May 22, 2024, the design for the cross-section of Sixth Street reflecting the changes directed in Council Resolution 341-2023 was presented.

Sixth Sixth Cross Section - May 2024