ERCA’s future concerning for county’s active transportation system

The Essex Region Conservation Authority (ERCA) has a significant role in the  County Wide Active Transportation System, however what the future holds for that system has some unknowns facing it.

Sometime in 2027, authorities across the province will merge and at last week’s Essex County council meeting, concerns were brought forward about how that will impact CWATS.

“This may be premature to answer, but with the uploading and the consolidation of ERCA into whatever the province is calling it, do we know the status of those trails,” questioned Amherstburg Deputy Mayor Chris Gibb.

In her report to council, Transportation Planning Co-ordinator Summer Yalda-Johnston gave an update on CWATS which includes 80km of safe off-road greenway trails maintained by ERCA.

While she answered that the county is in continual discussion with ERCA, county CAO Sandra Zwiers said the province is aware that there are questions that need to be answered.

“As soon as we have more clarity on this particular topic, we will be returning to council,” said Zwiers.

In 2012, the county completed a CWATS master plan which lays out specifics over the next 20 years for the system which this year will see a total of $4.9 million spent on multi-use trails and paved shoulders.

The county contributes $1.9 million with the rest coming from the seven lower-tier municipalities, including Amherstburg, which this year will pay $241,200 for a section from County Road 11 (Walker Road) to the Greenway.

Concern was brought up that a small section of paved shoulder along County Road 50 leading into Amherstburg continues to be overlooked. 

Yalda-Johnston said that particular section has mature trees, ditches, utilities and drainage that all need to be considered before paving the shoulder.

“It’s not an easy segment to place active transportation but we are very  much trying,” she said.

CWATS is presently working off of 2023 recommendations and this year plans on paving 16 more kilometers which helps in tourism.

“Was there a revisit of all the different road networks? I know there are sections of CWATS that might not make sense anymore since the implementation . I am wondering if they have been reviewed,” asked Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey.

Yalda-Johnston answered by noting that individual municipalities can initiate future work and that the county is constantly in communication with the lower-tiers.

LaSalle Deputy Mayor Michael Akpata wondered what type of impact cycling tourism the new Gordie Howe Bridge will have once is completed and what role CWATS plays in visitors coming from the other side of the border.

“When this opens, and we see an influx of people, will we be able to say it’s a success based on numbers.”

Yalda-Johnston said that the county and LaSalle are working together and that counters can be put in place to measure utilization of certain routes.

“I want to make sure we can cheer our successes,” said Akpata.

ERCA’s future concerning for county’s active transportation system

By Fred Groves