SURVEY RESPONSE/SUMMARY - Rathburn Road East and Ponytrail Drive Integrated Road Project
Rockwood Village is a well- established neighbourhood. Over the past 10 years, the demographics have balanced, and a newer generation is moving in as seniors downsize and leave the area.
Cycle Lanes
Currently, there are two multi purpose trails hidden off the roadways: The Shaver Trail on the west side of Ponytrail and the Mitoff Trail on the east side of Ponytrail. A third trail, #11 will be completed this spring. The results of this survey clearly indicate that the residents of Rockwood Village do not support the City’s current proposal to include bike lanes on Rathburn, Fieldgate or Ponytrail.
The survey results indicate that the existing trails are rarely used, if at all, by the majority of respondents. Adding cycle lanes is not seen as a benefit for the community, particularly as the existing off road trails are not being used to the fullest. Safety is a primary reason the cycle lanes are not supported. Young families, and seniors, prefer to use the trails, away from traffic and feel safer doing so.
In discussing use of the existing trails, it should be noted that a pedestrian crossing from the Shaver Trail to the Mitoff trail, across Ponytrail should be part of this plan. Connecting the trails would enhance the cycling opportunities.
In terms of a bike lane on Rathburn to the cul-de-sac, it has been pointed out that this is not an appropriate path to the Creek Trail. The stairs at the end of Rathburn require the cyclist to carry their bike. Alternately, there is a path through Garnetwood Park (Mitoff Trail) to the creek, where it is safer to access that trail. Furthermore, access from Burnhamthorpe is also an option.
We believe that no cyclist lanes should be installed on Ponytrail between Burnhamthorpe and Rathburn Rd. Cyclist should be encouraged to enter the community via Trail #11 on the west side of Ponytrail and through Garnetwood Park on the east side.
Traffic Concerns
If cycle lanes are to be added, we presume that the right turn lane from Ponytrail to Burnhamthorpe will also be removed, along with the right turn at Maple Ridge. Again, traffic here is not as light as estimated. It will only get worse. We oppose the removal of these right turn lanes.
The RHA is not convinced that the traffic studies properly reflect the current situation, and specifically not when the condos are built at Forest Park.
While we are currently experiencing far less traffic than normal, there is usually long lines of traffic approaching Burnhamthorpe particularly during rush hour. This was noted when the traffic report was approved for the Forest Park development. Lane reductions to provide cycle lanes will only exacerbate the traffic situation.
Furthermore, the busiest traffic area is on Ponytrail. The results of this survey indicate that cyclist and pedestrian want a signalize crossing to connect the trails.
Residents are strongly opposed to removing the right lane turns, particularly east from Ponytrail to Rathburn. Transport trailers turning into Longo’s need room to negotiate. We already see trucks struggle to make the right turn at Burnhamthorpe north onto Ponytrail.
Redesign of Rathburn, east of Ponytrail to Cul-de-Sac
Surprisingly, the community wants only minimal changes to this roadway. The majority favor doing nothing except to remove the concrete boulevards and replace with landscape per the community input. We support a median with low maintenance planting and definitely not grass should be installed. In 2015, the City and the Region of Peel presented Fusion Gardens to this community at our AGM. Residents were urged to consider this as a vital objective to conserving water and the need regular maintenance. We hope the City will follow its own advice.
While the City has proposed a stop sign at Bough Beeches, the community would prefer a signalized crossing. This will allow normal traffic flow but afford safe crossing when required. The RHA supports Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in the area of Garnetwood Park as soon as it is available.
Noise Walls
Respondents clearly do not support installation of noise walls along Rathburn on either side of Fieldgate. 63% were opposed to this proposal. We understand that the townhouse corporations are also opposed to this plan.
Miscellaneous
It is disappointing to note that during the research and due diligence phase of this project, the planners were not able to correctly identify the Lori Mitoff Trail and in turn used Mito to describe this trail throughout the document. Mr. Mitoff was an integral part of our community.
The current stop lights at Rathburn and Ponytrail do not allow pedestrians to cross unless they push the crossing button. Frustration causes some pedestrians to cross although the walk signal is not given. Furthermore, when the button is pushed there is not sufficient time to allow for seniors and parents with children to cross safely.
When Burnhamthorpe was re-developed, the bus stops near Sheridan Nurseries were removed. These stops served our residents who live east of Ponytrail and access transit via Garnetwood Park. At or around this time, we were advised that Transit was looking into ending service on Route 20 at Fieldgate. This would be devastating for existing users and the many new ones that are anticipated in the new condo project. A plan was proposed by RHA to bring the bus to Rathburn E and include a turn around at the dead end.
Transit has now announced that there will currently be no changes to the existing service. We are concerned that this may be a temporary commitment. We would like assurances that if changes in the route are required, our proposal of looping the bus at the end of Rathburn will be considered as a favourable alternative. To this end, we propose including a wide turnaround at the end of Rathburn as part of this reconstruction.
Conclusion
In 2019 we were asked to wait to clean up the mess resulting from previous construction, as paving Rathburn and Ponytrail were in the plan for 2021. We accepted that at face value. At no time was it ever presented to the RHA or our residents that the plan was actually to implement this cycling plan which, by the way, comprises the bulk of this proposal.
It is clear that our residents feel that our current trails are sufficient for local use, and improvements should be concentrated on community use preferences. Connecting our existing trail and providing safe passage across Ponytrail appears to be the will of Rockwood Village.
In these times of financial uncertainty, we believe that the residents of Rockwood Village feel that their tax dollars could be spent more judiciously by listening to our voice
Rockwood Homeowners’ Association
Cycle Lanes
Currently, there are two multi purpose trails hidden off the roadways: The Shaver Trail on the west side of Ponytrail and the Mitoff Trail on the east side of Ponytrail. A third trail, #11 will be completed this spring. The results of this survey clearly indicate that the residents of Rockwood Village do not support the City’s current proposal to include bike lanes on Rathburn, Fieldgate or Ponytrail.
The survey results indicate that the existing trails are rarely used, if at all, by the majority of respondents. Adding cycle lanes is not seen as a benefit for the community, particularly as the existing off road trails are not being used to the fullest. Safety is a primary reason the cycle lanes are not supported. Young families, and seniors, prefer to use the trails, away from traffic and feel safer doing so.
In discussing use of the existing trails, it should be noted that a pedestrian crossing from the Shaver Trail to the Mitoff trail, across Ponytrail should be part of this plan. Connecting the trails would enhance the cycling opportunities.
In terms of a bike lane on Rathburn to the cul-de-sac, it has been pointed out that this is not an appropriate path to the Creek Trail. The stairs at the end of Rathburn require the cyclist to carry their bike. Alternately, there is a path through Garnetwood Park (Mitoff Trail) to the creek, where it is safer to access that trail. Furthermore, access from Burnhamthorpe is also an option.
We believe that no cyclist lanes should be installed on Ponytrail between Burnhamthorpe and Rathburn Rd. Cyclist should be encouraged to enter the community via Trail #11 on the west side of Ponytrail and through Garnetwood Park on the east side.
Traffic Concerns
If cycle lanes are to be added, we presume that the right turn lane from Ponytrail to Burnhamthorpe will also be removed, along with the right turn at Maple Ridge. Again, traffic here is not as light as estimated. It will only get worse. We oppose the removal of these right turn lanes.
The RHA is not convinced that the traffic studies properly reflect the current situation, and specifically not when the condos are built at Forest Park.
While we are currently experiencing far less traffic than normal, there is usually long lines of traffic approaching Burnhamthorpe particularly during rush hour. This was noted when the traffic report was approved for the Forest Park development. Lane reductions to provide cycle lanes will only exacerbate the traffic situation.
Furthermore, the busiest traffic area is on Ponytrail. The results of this survey indicate that cyclist and pedestrian want a signalize crossing to connect the trails.
Residents are strongly opposed to removing the right lane turns, particularly east from Ponytrail to Rathburn. Transport trailers turning into Longo’s need room to negotiate. We already see trucks struggle to make the right turn at Burnhamthorpe north onto Ponytrail.
Redesign of Rathburn, east of Ponytrail to Cul-de-Sac
Surprisingly, the community wants only minimal changes to this roadway. The majority favor doing nothing except to remove the concrete boulevards and replace with landscape per the community input. We support a median with low maintenance planting and definitely not grass should be installed. In 2015, the City and the Region of Peel presented Fusion Gardens to this community at our AGM. Residents were urged to consider this as a vital objective to conserving water and the need regular maintenance. We hope the City will follow its own advice.
While the City has proposed a stop sign at Bough Beeches, the community would prefer a signalized crossing. This will allow normal traffic flow but afford safe crossing when required. The RHA supports Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) in the area of Garnetwood Park as soon as it is available.
Noise Walls
Respondents clearly do not support installation of noise walls along Rathburn on either side of Fieldgate. 63% were opposed to this proposal. We understand that the townhouse corporations are also opposed to this plan.
Miscellaneous
It is disappointing to note that during the research and due diligence phase of this project, the planners were not able to correctly identify the Lori Mitoff Trail and in turn used Mito to describe this trail throughout the document. Mr. Mitoff was an integral part of our community.
The current stop lights at Rathburn and Ponytrail do not allow pedestrians to cross unless they push the crossing button. Frustration causes some pedestrians to cross although the walk signal is not given. Furthermore, when the button is pushed there is not sufficient time to allow for seniors and parents with children to cross safely.
When Burnhamthorpe was re-developed, the bus stops near Sheridan Nurseries were removed. These stops served our residents who live east of Ponytrail and access transit via Garnetwood Park. At or around this time, we were advised that Transit was looking into ending service on Route 20 at Fieldgate. This would be devastating for existing users and the many new ones that are anticipated in the new condo project. A plan was proposed by RHA to bring the bus to Rathburn E and include a turn around at the dead end.
Transit has now announced that there will currently be no changes to the existing service. We are concerned that this may be a temporary commitment. We would like assurances that if changes in the route are required, our proposal of looping the bus at the end of Rathburn will be considered as a favourable alternative. To this end, we propose including a wide turnaround at the end of Rathburn as part of this reconstruction.
Conclusion
In 2019 we were asked to wait to clean up the mess resulting from previous construction, as paving Rathburn and Ponytrail were in the plan for 2021. We accepted that at face value. At no time was it ever presented to the RHA or our residents that the plan was actually to implement this cycling plan which, by the way, comprises the bulk of this proposal.
It is clear that our residents feel that our current trails are sufficient for local use, and improvements should be concentrated on community use preferences. Connecting our existing trail and providing safe passage across Ponytrail appears to be the will of Rockwood Village.
In these times of financial uncertainty, we believe that the residents of Rockwood Village feel that their tax dollars could be spent more judiciously by listening to our voice
Rockwood Homeowners’ Association
