Bartley Smith Greenway Trail FAQ

This segment of trail is a key missing link along the Bartley Smith Greenway (BSG) which starts at Teston Road and continues south to Steeles Avenue West, connecting to the Toronto Trail network. The BSG also forms part of the Vaughan Super Trail. Once complete, the BSG network will offer residents with approximately 15 km of open space trail experience connecting Maple, Carrville and Thornhill communities. This project will close a key gap in the existing trail network and create valuable connectivity for trail users.

The trail is being located on the east side of the creek because the area on the west side of the creek is heavily treed and has steep slopes, while the area on the east side is mainly open meadow. Constructing the trail on the east side of the creek will help minimize impacts to existing trees and shrubs, while offering better connections to existing trails and pedestrian access points and will be logistically easier to construct.

The project team will apply Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) principles to the design of the trail. CPTED is a practice used by the City of Vaughan that focuses on designing outdoor public spaces in a way which reduces crime and enhances safety and comfort for the community.

As part of the design framework, the aim is to keep the trail outside of the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) 100-year flood limit with the goal of maintaining 10 metres or more from adjacent residential rear yard property lines. However, the trail will need to encroach within this limit in select locations (e.g., 5 metres away from some rear yard property lines). The project team will work to reduce any impacts to adjacent residential properties.

There are several reasons to avoid construction in a flood plain and this is especially important as we face the impacts of climate change. Some of the impacts to developing trails in flood plains include increased erosion, reduction in habitat quality, reduced infrastructure lifecycle, increased safety risk, increased maintenance costs, and limited year-round access for those who depend on the trail for daily commuting. Even in areas where flooding hasn’t been a problem, increasing severity and frequency of storm events are making flood plains more susceptible to risk.  However, where constrained by space, pedestrian trails have been located in flood plains within the 100-year flood limit. 

The greenspace between Rutherford Road and Keele Street includes high-quality, sensitive vegetation and steep slopes at Keele Street that make it difficult for a trail connection to be developed. Additionally, the meandering nature of the creek alignment in this area does not leave adequate space for the trail as well as setbacks between the trail and adjacent residential rear yard property lines. The project team has noted the new active transportation facilities along Rutherford Road, with potential for a trail connection and shared facilities along Sherwood Park Drive, Alberta Drive or Tesma Way in the future.

Through the online public survey held in October 2021, this option was identified as the preferred choice. Residents gravitated towards this option as it improves access to the trail, enhances connectivity between existing trails, neighbourhoods and local destinations, and allows for the development of longer stretches of trail. The project team also determined that this option scored the highest when assessed for lower construction costs, higher user interest, and reduced environmental impacts.

Due to steep slopes and high impacts to the existing woodland/wetland features in the area, developing a trail connection to the Sports Village would be challenging. As an alternative trail option, the design team is looking at utilizing an existing storm water culvert to create a crossing and navigate the slopes to create a pedestrian connection to Hollybush Drive. The alternative trail option may be less direct with narrower widths and a limestone screening surface treatment.

The at-grade crossing at McNaughton Road is an interim measure. The City will be completing an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the widening of McNaughton Road. As part of the EA, the City will further investigate the feasibility of implementing a pedestrian underpass crossing under McNaughton Road as an ultimate solution, allowing for a continuous trail connection.

A pedestrian underpass was investigated for this location and would require a significant raising of Rutherford Road, leading to major construction and cost impacts. Looking at the interim and long-term assignments in this area, a pedestrian underpass would also reduce connectivity for trail users. Furthermore, continuing the trail through the greenspace south of Rutherford Road would impact the existing high-quality and sensitive vegetation. The steep slopes at Keele Street also make it difficult for a connection to be developed. Additionally, the meandering nature of the creek alignment in this area does not leave adequate space for the trail as well as setbacks between the trail and adjacent residential rear yard property lines.

The trail will be constructed using asphalt, with an approximate width of 3 metres and mowed edges of approximately 1.5 metres. The trail will allow for multi-directional travel, to ensure people can safely pass slower trail users and to accommodate maintenance vehicle use along the trail.

No, the current standard for recreational trails within open spaces does not include lighting.

Amenities for the trail will include trailheads with seating and wayfinding/interpretive signage. Additional parking is not proposed along this stretch of the trail, however public parking and trail heads access points will be identified on the wayfinding signage. 

The trail may be partially maintained during the winter months. Partial maintenance will include snow removal on select sections of the trail and de-icing activities for these key ‘connector’ locations.

Many of the recreational trails in the valley will be accessible for all trail users, meeting both the technical requirements of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) and the requirements for recreational trails listed in the Accessibility Design Guidelines for York Regional Forest Trails, 2013.

Motorized vehicles will not be permitted on the trail, with exception of City-authorized trail maintenance and management activities.

The study proposes additional active transportation routes along key local roads that connect to the trail crossings and pedestrian access points.

The valley corridor is public lands (owned by the City of Vaughan and Toronto and Region Conservation Authority) and long-term planning studies have identified this area for active recreational trail use. Appropriate measures will be taken to reduce impacts that the trail may have on adjacent residential properties, including investigating different types of screening to provide a buffer between the trail and adjacent residential rear yards. Specifically, the project team will be working with residents to determine the most appropriate screening type out of the following options:

• Light screening: specimen trees with selected views

• Medium screening: Small trees and/or shrubs: 2m – 3m (6ft – 10ft) tall

• Dense screening: Tall trees and/or shrubs understory

Residents are not permitted to disturb public greenspaces for landscaping, gardening, or composting as this has negative impacts on the surrounding ecosystem and may pose a liability to all parties. Though the trail will not directly impact these areas, the City and TRCA will be working with homeowners to eliminate this practice and inform the public on risks and impacts.

The removal of select trees and shrubs will be required to build the trail system. The trail will be designed to avoid existing trees wherever possible and limit impacts to adjacent trees. To mitigate impacts to wildlife, tree and shrub removals will take place in late fall/winter to avoid the migratory bird and bat windows.

The trail may be constructed in phases to best align with capital budget plans, land securement requirements, new residential developments and road development projects. Detail design followed by construction will likely be initiated in 2023, subject to resources and City Council approval of future capital budgets.

The City of Vaughan values the voice of the public and is dedicated to having constructive dialogue with the community that is open, transparent, accessible and inclusive. The City is committed to involving citizens, businesses and stakeholders in conversations about municipal decisions that interest and/or impact them.

Public consultation has been, and continues to be, a vital part of this project. The City has offered various opportunities for public feedback - to best inform trail development recommendations and development plans - including an online survey (October 2021). Thank you to those who participated.

Two additional Open Houses are planned in 2022 and will provide information on the final preferred trail route and additional trail design details. These upcoming open houses will be promoted through various City outreach and public engagement channels and on the project webpage at vaughan.ca/BartleySmithTrail.

If you have feedback you wish to discuss, please contact Michael Habib, Senior Planner, Parks Infrastructure Planning and Development department, via email at michael.habib@vaughan.ca or by phone at 905-832-2281 ext. 8092.