Users of transportation, both public and recreational, might see some big changes depending on how voting goes at council.
Municipal staff will be bringing forward two separate reports during Monday night's council meetings involving different forms of transportation across the municipality.
The first one will recommend that council approves additions and changes to several bus routes in Chatham-Kent. The recommendations are based on a report that came to council in June 2019 where the CK Transit Task Force found improvements that needed to be made.
The report recommends that council approves a fifth bus route for CK Transit's conventional transit service, which runs throughout the community of Chatham.
The report details that from 2015 to 2018, bus ridership was steadily increasing. Route 1, which services Chatham's west side, saw a 20 per cent increase in ridership. According to the report, anywhere from 1 to 6 passengers are denied rides during peak hours due to overcapacity on buses.
"The increase in ridership is partly due to an increase in foreign student enrollment comprising 100 to 200 students, as well as the addition of a summer term," stated the report. "Not all students are living in Chatham but may commute from rural locations. Many of these students depend upon buses as their main mode of transportation."
The additional route would add service along Richmond Street from Keil Drive to Queen Street. Adding a fifth route would cost $380,786 (to the end of the current contract with InTouch Connections, which ends on June 30, 2021) and the report notes it will also help accommodate increased ridership for the new casino in Chatham.
At the cost of $77,989 (to the end of the current contract with Citilinx, which ends on June 30, 2021), the report also suggests adding mid-day runs for several routes for CK Transit's inter-urban service, which connects communities across the municipality to Chatham.
"Through the results of a survey conducted during the municipal elections by citizens and council candidates, along with deputations at the CK Transit Task Force meetings, it was noted that many riders are being abandoned in town with no return bus until late in the day," the report explained. "Included in these results are students coming to St. Clair College. An additional mid-day run will assist in minimizing this inconvenience."
According to the report, route additions will be funded through the Gas Tax Reserve and from fares collected from riders.
A second report coming to council will recommend that they approve several projects for trail lifecycle and active transportation projects at a combined cost of around $1,001,470.
The following Trail Lifecycle Projects were selected for 2019:
•Reconstruction of the look-off dock and improving accessibility at Erieau Marsh TrailA box spreader will also be purchased for each community so that regular trail maintenance can be completed annually in-house.•Replace concrete pavers with crusher dust and increase accessibility at Arboretum Park in Dresden
•New 430 metre trail to connect the Mitchell’s Bay Marine Park to the village core in Mitchell's Bay
•New 650 metre trail to connect the Public Utilities Commission at 325 Grand Ave E Chatham to a nearby subdivision
•New 430 metre trail to connect the Mitchell’s Bay Marine Park to the village core
•New 100 metre trail to connect Emily and Gregory Lane in Wheatley
As part of the Active Transportation Lifecycle Projects, a 1,600 metre trail will be constructed along Riverview Drive which will connect the Bloomfield multi-use trail with Keil Road in Chatham.
If council approves the recommendations, the projects will be funded through the Trails and Active Communities Lifecycle Reserves.