Abstract Manager

Active transportation (AT) planning and design in rural areas, small municipalities, and Indigenous communities presents challenges that differ significantly from those encountered in urban environments. These contexts often involve limited municipal resources, constrained funding, and transportation corridors originally designed to prioritize vehicle mobility. At the same time, strong community connections, proximity to daily destinations, and growing interest in safe, inclusive mobility create meaningful opportunities to integrate active transportation into everyday travel.

This presentation draws on Egis’ experience delivering transportation infrastructure projects for provincial and municipal clients, including work within and through Indigenous communities across Northern Ontario. A particular focus is placed on active transportation improvements implemented as part of Ministry of Transportation (MTO) projects on the provincial cycling network. Design approaches were guided by the Ontario Bikeways Design Manual, relevant Ontario Traffic Manuals, and Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) requirements, while remaining adaptable to rural roadway constraints and unique community needs.

Key case studies include the design of Highway 17 west of North Bay through Nipissing First Nation. This work encompassed approximately 20 km of corridor improvements and included the replacement of the Laronde Creek Bridge, which incorporated an affixed pedestrian crossing to improve connectivity through the community. Additional examples include bridge rehabilitation and replacement projects in Muskoka and Terrace Bay, where standalone pedestrian crossings were required during construction and successfully reinstated upon project completion. Across these projects, both permanent and temporary AT facilities were designed to maintain safe pedestrian and cycling connectivity throughout construction.

The presentation will outline practical methodologies for integrating AT into rural and highway-adjacent environments, including the use of paved shoulders with buffer zones, rumble strip treatments with appropriate signage, physically separated barriers, and enhanced pedestrian and cycling crossings within smaller communities. Particular attention is given to balancing safety, accessibility, constructability, capital costs and maintenance considerations.

The presentation concludes by identifying transferable lessons learned and best practices for advancing active transportation in non-urban contexts, demonstrating how adaptable design, collaboration with Indigenous and local communities, and alignment with provincial standards can deliver safe, inclusive, and context-sensitive AT infrastructure.