New bike paths coming soon
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Paths along Clark
Avenue will create greater connections for the community
The City
of Vaughan is installing 4.5-kilometres of bike paths on each side of Clark
Avenue between Jason Street/David Lewis Drive and Yonge Street. Bicycle riders will
be able to reach local destinations in a way that is practical, economical, fun
and gentle on the environment. It will also further connect those who live,
work and play within the Thornhill area.
The
Clark Avenue Bike Path Project, managed by the City’s Infrastructure
Development portfolio, will build on the bike paths recently completed along
Bathurst and Centre streets as part of the vivaNext rapidway. At the western limit,
the bike paths will connect to one of the City’s major trail systems, the
Bartley Smith Greenway, which will form part of the future Vaughan Super Trail. At the eastern limit,
the bike paths will connect to the Yonge/Steeles intensification corridor and
future subway extension.
The paths
will also include transit stop and intersection improvements as well as road
rehabilitation and resurfacing to help pedestrians, bike riders and motorists get
around comfortably. A portion of this work is being completed on behalf of York
Region Transit at the New Westminster Drive, Bathurst Street and Hilda Avenue
intersections to accommodate a future VIVA Orange Route expansion.
In
addition, the City of Vaughan received a grant from the Ontario
Municipal Commuter Cycling (OMCC) Program in 2017, as well as funding from York
Region’s portion of the OMCC and their Pedestrian and Cycling Municipal
Partnership Program
to help fund the installation of the paths.
Once
complete, the paths will:
- Increase the amount of bike travel throughout the community
- Improve accessibility to schools, parks, libraries, community centres, places of worship and more within the Clark Avenue corridor
- Provide connections between the existing Bartley Smith Greenway Trail system and the Dufferin Street bike lanes to Yonge Street facilities and rapid transit
As
Vaughan continues to grow, so does the volume of cars on the road. The City
recognizes the need to develop creative, environmentally sustainable
alternative methods of transportation to alleviate traffic and help protect the
environment. In fact, the Vaughan Official Plan
2010
calls for a transportation transformation in how people move around Vaughan. The
City continues to work toward this goal by establishing a comprehensive
transportation network that allows a full range of mobility options, including
walking, cycling and transit. The updated City of Vaughan 2019
Pedestrian and Cycling Master Plan was approved in principle by Council in
December 2019. Learn more at vaughan.ca/cycling.
The
Clark Avenue Bike Path Project further aligns with the City’s commitment to
improve transportation and mobility, foster sustainable communities and create
an active, safe and diverse city – all priorities outlined in the 2018-2022 Term of
Council Service Excellence Strategic Plan. The paths are also helping the City to
continue to be fully connected and integrated through initiatives that improve
the municipal road network, support the development of transit and increase
cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.
Construction
of these bike paths, road and transit improvements will take place from June
2020 to July 2021. For more information and project timelines, visit vaughan.ca/ClarkAve.
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