THUNDER BAY — Cycling advocates looking for a safer, more convenient way to bike through the inter-city area of Thunder Bay may have to keep waiting.
The city is running out of time after spending the past year trying to find out if CN will allow its railway bridge over the Neebing-McIntyre Floodway to be modified for use by cyclists and pedestrians.
Administration is now recommending the city proceed with two other projects in order to stay qualified for provincial funding.
In the absence of a firm commitment from the railway, city administration is advising the city proceed with work next year on a multi-use trail along Oliver Road between Balmoral Street and Golf Links Road, and on a trail along the Ford Street corridor between Walsh Street and Walnut Street.
The cost, approximately $1 million, would be covered by a provincial grant, matched by city funding, through the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling Program.
Administration points out that under an agreement with the province, its share must be spent by the end of next year's construction season.
"We have to be aware of the timelines involved with the OMCC funding agreement," the report to council points out.
Once the Oliver Road and Ford Street projects are done, it says, any remaining funding could be put towards the detailed design of a future Vickers/Carrick Street crossing.
A further delay in establishing a crossing of the floodway in the inter-city area will disappoint cyclists who are wary of biking along busy arteries such as Memorial Avenue and Balmoral Street.
The estimated cost of retrofitting the CN bridge to accommodate cyclists and pedestrians is between $600,000 and $700,000.
A separate bridge in the vicinity would cost twice as much, and is an option not supported by the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority because it could impact Floodway operations and dredging activities.
City staff are also concerned about the risk from driving piles for a new bridge so close to one of the city's main trunk sewers which runs along the bank of the Floodway.
Noting that "the city cannot force CN to allow a pedestrian crossing on their structure," administration recommends that negotiations with the railway continue.
Although there is no agreement with the railway so far, its own police services appear to favour the city's proposal rather than seeing the city build a separate crossing over the floodway.
According to a report prepared for city council, "CN Police Services have indicated that they would prefer a retrofit solution with a combined pedestrian and railway bridge as they spend significant time ticketing unlawful crossing of this structure."
