Victoria_Park_Re port Final.pdf - City of Charlottetown

Final Report • June 2013
VICTORIA PARK COMPREHENSIVE MASTER PLAN
The redevelopment of the boardwalk as a multi-modal facility addresses a number
of pressing considerations. The seasonal configuration of a dedicated cycle track
and pedestrian boardwalk does not accommodate users such as rollerbladers,
skateboarders, parents with jogging strollers, or those with mobility assist devices.
Many of these kinds of users would not feel safe on the cycle track, but are not able to
use the existing narrow boardwalk.
The construction of the boardwalk itself is not robust enough to maintain a high level
of durability required from such a popular municipal infrastructure asset, and requires
significant maintenance effort. The very nature of its surface, although pleasant to
walk on, is challenging for those with mobility restrictions, and it can become quite
slippery in winter conditions. The construction is not sufficient to support the weight
of snow clearing equipment, and is not wide enough to accommodate tires without
damaging the adjacent grass. The ongoing strategy to replace individual boards as
they break leads to uneven sections of the boardwalk, which impacts its accessibility
and safety. In the long run, the improvement of the boardwalk has the significant
potential benefit, both for the community in terms of user experience, and for the City
in terms of life cycle assessment and operational efficiency.
Interim Solution
The existing boardwalk cross section is not wide enough to facilitate multi-modal
transportation. A seasonal cycle track addresses this need in part, but does not
accommodate other wheeled users such as rollerbladers, parents with strollers, and the
mobility impaired. The boardwalk’s construction, although quite pleasant to walk on,
requires a significant investment in terms of maintenance and upkeep. As the boardwalk
requires reconstruction, consideration should be given to converting it towards a
more traditional asphalt multi-use trail with a wider cross section. The Transportation
Association of Canada (TAC) advocates a 4.0 metre width for safe multi-modal active
transportation facilities. If the City were to upgrade the boardwalk to a trail of between
4.0 - 5.0 metres in width, it would be able to safely manage the existing peak pedestrian
traffic, while accommodating other types of wheeled users. A speed limit, public
outreach program, and regulatory signage would all be supporting initiatives to help
make this transition towards multiple use.
A multi-use trail, when properly designed, is safer for both cyclists and pedestrians. The
typical recreational cyclist is not comfortable on the road, and prefers a multi-use facility.
They are statistically safer sharing a facility with pedestrians, as opposed to motor
vehicles. A more advanced or utilitarian cyclist who travels at a faster speed behaves
more like a vehicle, and is safer on a road. This type of cyclist generally does not use
a dedicated multi-use facility in any event, and will travel on the road. In the case of
Victoria Park, these utilitarian cyclists would be able to share the carriageway with
internal park traffic.
6.14
Existing Park Driveway Cross Section
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