Trail Progression

ITrail Progression   (Updated Jan 7/23)

Thunder Bay City Council unanimously approves proceeding with a Phase 2 of the development of the City Waterfront (Feb 2021)

The Port Arthur Rotary Club establishes an innovative Community Action Team to advocate and fundraise for a Waterfront Multi Use Recreational Trail ( July 2021)

Reps from active living groups join The Waterfront Trail Rotary Community Action Team  (WTRCAT)  Mar/21 - May/22 

The City establishes a Waterfront Development Committee and appoints the Team-Lead of WTRCAT to be one of the 5 citizen members on the Committee and 2 City Councilors and the Mayor (May 2021)

The City Staff present a multi-year plan for the development of a Waterfront Multi Use Recreation Trail (June 2021)

This Waterfront Trail is to extend (12K) from Fisherman’s Park off Grenville Ave through Marina Park to Mission Marsh to crossing the Kam River to link with Syndicate Ave

The Vision is to encourage and support linkages with Trails developed by other adjacent jurisdictions and by the City. These include: 

  • A trail link across the James St Swing Bridge to future trails developed by the FWFN and linking to Chippewa Park

  • A potential link via Shipyard Rd and the City Water Treatment Plant to a future Trail developed by the Shuniah Municipality using portions of the former Kinghorn rail bed

  • A potential City Trail along the Kam River from the Jackknife Bridge to the James St Swing bridge. This requires negotiations with the current property owners (CP etc)

City Phased Trail Development Plan 

The multi year Plan for the completion of a Waterfront Multi Use Recreational Trail is summarized below.

 Phase 1    1-5 years          {All Cost Estimates circa June 2021}

Trail developments now underway in 2022 include …..

  •         A new Lookout cement pad at the shoreline 2 km north of Marina Park

  •         WayFinding signs from Marina Park to the new Lookout

  •         Trail extension from Marina Park to Pool 6 and the Cruise Ship Dock

  •         Trail lane markings on the 3m widen shoulders of Island Dr from Main St to the McIntyre bridge

  •         A new 2 km trail (fine gravel) to  Mission Marsh Conservation Area along the McKellar River

Environmental & design Studies ($500K) for ….

  •         a new McKellar River Bridge,

  •         a pedestrian bridge over rail lines at Richardson elevators and

  •         road re-alignments along Sleeping Giant Parkway for 3m bidirectional trail

Negotiate with NOW landowners (industrial land adjacent to the raised ore dock) & build 1.2 km spur trail along the shore with security fencing($2.2M)

 Phase 2     5-10 years

Negotiate with CP & add pedestrian crossing to Jackknife Bridge  

  •          bridge alterations ($1.2 M)

  •          build approaches to the bridge ($2M)

 New pedestrian bridge at McIntyre River Floodway ($250K)

New pedestrian Crossover on Main St at Hammond Ave ( $200k)

Widen sidewalk along Grenville Ave from Boulevard Park

Signage along Shipyard Rd to Fisherman’s Park ($10K)

Phase 3    10 + years

  •          Build new road & trail  bridge over Mckellar River   ($6.5M)

  •          Build 3m wide  bidirectional trail along Hammond & Maureen Ave ($950K)

  •          Negotiate access & build trail from Pool 6 to connect with Central Ave

  •          Cost out the negotiated alignment & build trail

  •          Realign & build bidirectional trail from Marina Park to Richardson Elevators

  •          Negotiate for trail spur across former Great West Timber property

  •          Update Designs & build pedestrian bridge above rail spurs into Richardson elevators ($6.5M)

Additional Trail  Expenses

The City  has identified  that the trail will require:

·         Public Benches etc /$35K per site 

·         WayFinding Signage at $8K per km and

·         Trail Maintenance  at $1.3K per km

Possible Funding Sources include ….

  1. City Annual Budgets … both Capital and Operating

  2. Provincial Funding Programs … for qualified capital projects

  3. Federal Funding Programs ….for qualified capital projects

  4. Major Donors … both corporate and non profit

  5. Fund Raising … via a new Port Arthur Rotary Charity incorporation

City Budget Process

  • City Council receives draft preliminary annual operating budget in early January.

  • Public are invited to review & submit comments/deputations in mid January.

  • City Council reviews and approves final budget in February.

WTRCAT Role

The WTRCAT will attend the public sessions and to submit our comments advocating that the City apply for funding via provincial and federal programs by allocating sufficient funds in the 2023 budget to qualify for such funding programs .

WTRCAT will continue to work with the City by providing input on the progression of the Waterfront Trail as to planning, design, construction and operating aspects.

When the Port Arthur Rotary Club has its charitable incorporation established WTRCAT will assist in fund raising efforts for trail construction.