Farmer's Market Trail
Welcome to the project page for the Farmer's Market Trail Stage 2 development (between Research and Technology Park and Northfield Drive).
Since 2016, the city and region of Waterloo have worked together to realign “The Great Trail” (formerly the Trans Canada Trail) between Research and Technology Park in Waterloo and the St. Jacob’s Farmers Market in Woolwich. The city is currently working on Stage 2 of this project, a multi-use trail along Parkside Drive which will extend from the Research and Technology ION Station and existing Laurel Trail to Northfield Drive, where it will connect to Stage 1, which continues to the Farmers Market. Construction of this Stage 2 portion of the trail is planned for 2021.
Several different routes were presented and considered in 2018, and the chosen alternative (based on utility and property constraints, minimum multi-use trail standards, and public feedback) is along Parkside Drive between Bearinger Road and Northfield Drive. This design option includes the following:
- The existing sidewalk on the east side of the road will be replaced with an asphalt multi-use trail. The trail will be a minimum width of 2.4 metres (with some narrowing in certain locations).
- To accommodate the trail, a portion of Parkside Drive just north of Bearinger Road will be reconstructed.
- Improved trail crossings will be included at the major intersections and side streets.
Please watch our presentation video to learn more about this selected option, and let us know what you think in our Comments section. If you require any information from the presentation in an alternate format, please contact a member of the project team and we will be pleased to work with you to ensure a full understanding of the project information.
Follow our project to stay up-to-date as this project continues moving forward.
Please share your thoughts and comments on the design for the Farmer's Market Trail, Stage 2.
Commenting on the Farmer's Market Trail, Stage 2 design is now closed.
Project Library
Who's listening
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CH
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PR
Email patrick.rees@wsp.com -
Looks good. Please give detailed planning/construction consideration to connections to adjacent trails (incl Waterloop @ McCormick Centre, the on-street death lanes on Northfield, and Heasley Park), and ensure appropriate curb cuts for quick cyclist transitions onto the MUT from nearby residential streets.
Finally a bike lane project which I can support. I use the trails for my recreation and bike on them all the time. I like the idea of a multiple use trail. I believe we should have a trail extension to Laurel Creek conservation area as well. The existing bike lanes on Westmount Road and Northfield drive are ridiculous. I agree with Marg Hoss-Bay that no one uses them. From Columbia, there is enough room to put in a bike lane that people will use called a mix use trail. One of the reasons I do not use the stupid temporary bike lanes and bike lanes on major arterial roads is because it is unsafe. The little plastic dividers will not protect you if a car slides on ice in the winter or when it gets slippery on the road. The only thing that bike helmet will do.is soak up the juices when a vehicle hits you on a major artery and your head hits the pavement. I see the city does not want to hear comments from people who live in the area of Alexandra as I do. I guess they do not like the feedback they have been getting lately. Time to take your medicine for not listening to the citizens of Waterloo.
What makes you believe that these bike lanes will be used? There are already bike lanes on University, from Westmount to Northfield drive which has an extra wide sidewalk and a bike lanes. I travelled for 4 years all seasons to the village of University gates where my husband and other relatives were. During this time I counted at most two people using these bike lanes and trail which take you to the market and to Laurel Creek. I guess the people who will be going to the market will increase the sales of bicycle trailers to bring their stuff home from the market. Since you allow ridiculous comments of opening back up Laurel Creek downtown. How about the ION be extended to the market instead expanding it to Cambridge. Hopefully, people will use it!