Abstract Manager

Sarnia’s Active Transportation Master Plan (ATMP) was developed over a year, in close engagement with the local community. The project aimed at developing an active transportation network which included a walking and wheeling network as well as a cycling network. The ATMP process was rooted in the belief that the community's voice is crucial in shaping infrastructure that serves people, and the active transportation network was developed based on insights gained from local residents and stakeholders.

The ATMP process included an analysis of Sarnia’s local context to understand who Sarnians are, what road and active transportation infrastructure is currently there and identify main challenges and opportunities to implement active transportation in the city. It also included public consultation periods which combined different activities such as in-person workshops, online surveys, and bike rides. This inclusive approach ensured that the diverse voices of Sarnians would be heard and used to build an active transportation network that genuinely serves the needs of its population. The ATMP objectives were shaped to benefice Sarnia by improving health, safety, economic prosperity, equity, network efficiency, and environmental sustainability. The goal was to create a comprehensive and safe network that not only promotes physical and mental well-being but also contributes to the economic vitality of the community.

The walking network focused on enhancing safety and comfort by adding sidewalks and improving intersections at key missing links within the existing infrastructure. The cycling network, on the other hand, presented a strategic roadmap with quick wins, medium-term, and long-term projects to accommodate diverse needs and skill levels, encouraging broader community participation in cycling activities. The ATMP offered an action plan and implementation strategy based on infrastructure, planning, behaviour change, and operations and maintenance actions with details provided on stakeholders responsible for monitoring the success of the actions.

The year-long ATMP project in Sarnia, Ontario, demonstrated a commitment to community engagement, emphasizing the importance of including residents and local stakeholders to build a better walking and cycling network that serves the needs of its community.

This presentation will dive into how a community-based approach to developing a network can compensate and respond to limited access to data, and how important such a perspective is when developing walking and cycling infrastructure for the future. The presentation will also cover the challenges overcome in developing a flexible, long-term and visionary plan which can steer the building of active transportation infrastructure.