City of Kawartha Lakes working to develop complete active transportation network

The City of Kawartha Lakes' new active transportation master plan will establish connectivity to complete a network of routes for those cycling, walking or rollerblading.

City of Kawartha Lakes staff is working to develop the municipality’s active transportation master plan (ATMP).

The goal of the document, due to be completed by March 2023, is to identify a continuous and connected network of safe and sustainable active transportation routes and facilities.

“There isn’t really a comprehensive document like this that currently exists within the municipality,” said Jonathan Derworiz, a planner with the City of Kawartha Lakes.

“We’re hoping to use this document to propose short, medium and long-term recommendations and strategies for developing the active transportation network within the municipality.”

Another goal of the ATMP is to create more and improved opportunities to use active modes of transportation such as walking, cycling, skateboarding and rollerblading as well as mobility devices for people of all abilities within the municipality.

Staff is working with a consultant team at CIMA+ to review and identify routes, facilities and strategies to support the ATMP.

“There are pieces of a network.  There are trails to run and cycle.  There isn’t much in-terms of on-road facilities or treatments like dedicated bike lanes, bollards, share roads and things you’d see in more of an urban environment,” Derworiz added.

“There is very much a network.  It’s fragmented.  It’s a little bit piecemeal.  One of the big pieces of this plan is connectivity and bringing all of those pieces together to develop a network that considers both the rural and urban environments that the municipality is comprised of.”