Skip to content

Neebing trail a slippery slope, councillors argue

A call to explore the possibility of a walking path along Mountain Road was blocked by city councillors who argued the municipality can’t afford to make exceptions to rural service standards.

THUNDER BAY — City councillors who stopped a call for a Neebing trail network in its tracks on Monday didn’t sugarcoat their message to area residents: If they want increased services, they’ll need to pay for them.

Still, the call from Coun. Greg Johnsen found significant support around the table, failing only on a 6-6 tie.

Johnsen had sought a report investigating “options for a trail network in the vicinity of Mountain Road and Nor’Wester View School.”

The Neebing ward councillor's motion also requested cost estimates, with an eye to potential investments in the 2024 budget.

Johnsen framed his motion as a call for pedestrian safety for an area that already hosts an elementary school and is set to grow.

“Really what I’m asking for is just a little bit of consideration for those who want to walk and get to school safety in some of our outlying areas of the city,” he said.

Answering questions from council, staff said while the city can consider trails in outlying areas like Mountain Road, there’s a reason it doesn’t have a sidewalk.

“Mountain Road area is part of the rural zoning, and sidewalks are not considered as part of a rural service level,” said director of engineering and operations Kayla Dixon.

The city has previously moved to improve pedestrian safety on the roadway by shifting its centre line, creating a widened paved shoulder on one side, Dixon added.

Coun. Shelby Ch’ng suggested the city could do more to make that space feel safe for pedestrians.

“Can we have … that widened shoulder a little bit more pronounced with paint or markings?” she asked. “I’ve walked it multiple times, and I didn’t feel that as a pedestrian, it just seemed I was walking in a car space.”

Coun. Brian Hamilton asked if the city's plans support new infrastructure like trails in outlying areas, with Dixon responding the city already struggles to maintain popular urban trails.

“We’ve got sections of Boulevard Lake, which is a very well-used trail, that need to be rehabilitated that we haven’t been able to bring into the budget this year,” she said. “We’ve got sections of McVicar Creek trail … And certainly, there seems to be an interest in council to look at new infrastructure like the waterfront trail.”

“Our active transportation plan identifies several different priorities for the trail network over [10 years] … which certainly do not include additional trails out in Neebing.”

However, Dixon said a trail along Mosquito Creek, connecting to the school via Mountain Road, is included in the city’s longer-term plans.

“The establishment of new trail networks in rural areas is probably not a priority for the broader community,” said Coun. Mark Bentz. “We’ve got the waterfront trail on tap right now, we’ve got the $2 million Vickers[-Carrick] bridge, and all the other trails.”

Coun. Trevor Giertuga argued there was little to distinguish Mountain Road from other outlying neighbourhoods that are home to residential areas and institutions like seniors homes.

“Let’s just face it, it’s a rural area. People are building out there, but they’re building out there knowing there’s not a trail network,” he said.

“Having been the McIntyre councillor for 18 years, there’s tons of roads where people would like a sidewalk, or even just a paved shoulder. We can’t start doing that everywhere.”

Hamilton agreed the issue wasn’t a priority for limited infrastructure dollars.

“It’s not zoned for this type of activity, even though future development may proceed,” he said. “Maybe the community out there would want to put it on their taxes to pay for a community development project.”

Ch’ng also touched on the idea of a local improvement charge, saying outlying subdivisions already cost the city more to service than they generate in property taxes.

Still, Ch’ng said she sees a need for pedestrian safety improvements in the area.

“I don’t think the problem’s going to go away,” she said.

Several councillors argued the city should consider adding services in the area, however.

“For this coming budget of 2024, I think this is a little taxing, but I do see the necessity of some sort of connectivity due to the school,” said Coun. Rajni Agarwal.

“It is a growing neighbourhood. It's semi-rural, but it’s a semi-rural area with a lot more development and a lot more income coming in.”

City staff said the area is expected to see additional subdivision development. Johnsen cited an estimate of at least 170 nearby lots that could be developed or sold in the coming years.

Agarwal also broached the idea of an additional charge to support trails.

"Coun. Johnsen, would you want to take it to the neighbourhood to see if they’d be willing to have it as a levy to their taxes?" she asked. "Because the cost may not be that exorbitant."

In an interview, Johnsen expressed little enthusiasm over the possibility.

“I don’t think that will carry favour in that area of the city,” he said. “But there are other things that can be done.”

That includes a simple “organic tread trail” that he said residents themselves could help clear and maintain.

“That's probably the cheapest option, but that could be a four-season trail,” he said. “In a way, the people make the trail.”

“I don’t think this has to be a sidewalk or an asphalt trail. I think residents will be happy with a designated place for walkers and animal lovers, retirees."

“The population is growing, and it’s not stopping,” he added. “So I think eventually something’s going to have to be done in terms of allowing people to be safe.”



Ian Kaufman

About the Author: Ian Kaufman

Read more


Comments

push icon
Be the first to read breaking stories. Enable push notifications on your device. Disable anytime.
No thanks