REQUEST FOR DECISION
DATE: December 15, 2021 Report No. 2021-21-031
TO: Laurie Hurst, Chief Administrative Officer
FROM: Jeff Miller, Director of Engineering and Public Works
SUBJECT:
Title
Shallow Utility Line Installation/Potential Pathway Along Devonshire Road Between Lampson Street and Fairview Road
End
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
That Council receive this report for information.
Body
RELEVANT POLICY:
Sidewalk Master Plan
Pedestrian Charter
STRATEGIC RELEVANCE:
Local Services and Infrastructure
• Identify infrastructure repair and proactively plan for replacement needs
• Identify long term financial requirements for local services and infrastructure
BACKGROUND:
Shaw Cablesystems Ltd (Shaw) began their design of a shallow utility line along Devonshire Road between Lampson Road to Fairview Road in December 2020. An initial submission for municipal approval was made in February of 2021 which required revision due to conflicts with existing lines and a change in scope by Shaw. The second submission was received and approved in September of 2021. Construction occurred in November/December of 2021. The following are the features of the project:
• Located along south side of Devonshire Road
• Located behind curb for majority of the way except in front of a portion of 769 Lampson Road and all of 929 Devonshire Road
• Boulevard from Lampson to Porter is grassed with driveways
• Boulevard from Porter to Fairview is grassed with driveways
• Trench width to be a minimum of 450 mm to maximum of 600 mm
• Trench depth to be approximately 1,000 mm deep with straight cut walls
• Trench backfill was granular in nature due to removal of native material during construction
• Restoration to match existing conditions of surface features
o Approximately surface width restoration 600 mm
o Surface restoration included grassed boulevard and driveway crossings
ISSUES:
1. Rationale for Selected Option
Council has received a concern that this construction project could have provided a pathway along this length of Devonshire Road. This project was not converted into a pathway for several reasons:
• This section of road is not scheduled to be constructed through the Sidewalk Master Plan for 15 plus years as a sidewalk exists on the north side of Devonshire
• No budget was available for construction of the sidewalk
• A gravel pathway is not an acceptable surface for boulevards
• Would not provide an all-weather and smooth travelling surface
• Liability concerns due to pathway not meeting Township standards for a sidewalk
• Maintenance concerns due to maintenance of gravel and migration to the boulevard and street
Staff’s recommendation is Council accept this report for information.
2. Organizational Implications
The Township is owner of the right of way and is responsible for its management. As part of their duties, Engineering reviews proposed projects from deep and shallow and overhead utilities to determine if there are any conflicts and ensure that new lines do not conflict with existing lines. These projects are also compared with ongoing or proposed programs and projects to ensure that opportunities for sequential construction can occur between utility projects and Township projects.
3. Financial Implications
A class D cost estimate was done to determine an approximate cost to construct a standard sidewalk along this section of road. This cost would be an order of magnitude cost of $250,000. This project would include:
• 1.8-metre-wide sidewalk
• 260 metres of sidewalk
• Three access ramps
• Driveway restoration
• Either retaining walls or regraded boulevard
• Spot replacement of curb and gutter
This segment of the sidewalk network will not be constructed for 15 plus years. If the residents would like to see the sidewalk constructed earlier than this, it would be necessary for residents on the street to undertake a Local Area Service initiative to gain approval and funding for the work.
4. Sustainability & Environmental Implications
The sidewalk network forms part of the Active Transportation network. This network will encourage growth in multi modal transportation. Through the two rounds of public consultations for the Active Transportation Network Plan, this location was only noted and not actively highlighted by survey respondents. This section of street does have a concrete sidewalk along the north side.
There are no significant environmental implications.
5. Communication & Engagement
The Township has a very active communication and engagement process with utility operators and developers and consultants. This process is in place to avoid conflicts with existing and proposed services and to capture opportunities where projects can be sequenced in order for construction to occur sequentially or within a short time frame. The Township communicates with utility owners as projects and programs are coming online to avoid conflicts and seeing new works dug up. Utility owners provide information as well but have greater flexibility in design and construction schedules based on their business requirements.
ALTERNATIVES:
1. That Council receive this report for information.
2. That Council direct staff work be in contact with residents along Devonshire Road between Lampson Street and Fairview Road to determine if there is a desire to undertake a Local Area Service initiative for the construction of sidewalk structure along the south side of Devonshire Road.