1.  Planning Goals

The Town will be served by an integrated system of sidewalks and trails that allow multipurpose recreation and transportation opportunities for pedestrians and non-motorized, wheeled vehicles. 

The system will provide a main trail loop that encircles the Town, ancillary loops through various sections and subdivision areas of the Town and connections and linkages to parks, recreation facilities, schools and other amenities and facilities of the community. 

The system will provide for educational, historical, natural history opportunities for the residents. 

2.  Purpose of the Plan

The purpose of the Sidewalk and Trail Development Plan is to

• identify an overall integrated system of sidewalks and trails within the Town of Lacombe and conceptually in the areas of Lacombe County adjacent to the Town
• designate those sidewalk and trails that comprise the overall network
• set out the classifications of sidewalk and trails
• prescribe overall development objectives and policies
• identify specific trail and sidewalk development projects, their timing, costs and funding
• establish operating policies and objectives for the system

3.  Sidewalk / Trail Network

The sidewalk and trail network is set out in Figure 1 and is based on the anticipated land use pattern shown on Map 2 of the Municipal Development Plan. 

The network will include hard surfaced sidewalks and trails of concrete or asphalt pavement and soft surfaced trails using natural grass or covered with wood chips.

4.  Overall Development Objectives and Policies
 

1. A high standard, hard surfaced trail constructed that, over the long term, will encircle the Town and provide a "main loop" to which other secondary loops and linkages would be joined.
    
2. Secondary loop trails be designated to include new subdivisions, green spaces and destination areas.

3. Except in industrial areas, sidewalks will be constructed on one side of all new streets and roads.  Sidewalks on local and collector roads may be combined structurally with the concrete curb and gutter (monolithic).  Sidewalks or trails constructed on Primary Collector and Arterial Roads will be separated from the roads curb and gutter.  Sidewalks will placed on the north and east side of roadways to facilitate clearing through melting in the winter and spring unless there are factors that prevent such an orientation. In the planning of trails and sidewalks that consideration be given to placement that maintains contiguous routes.

4. Coordination and integration between existing trails and sidewalks will be improved so that gaps in the system are eliminated with the construction of appropriate trail types and linkages.
    
5. Development of trails near the lakes in northern area of the Town (Elizabeth Lake, Lake Anne, Barnett Lake and Henner's Pond) will be developed to be maintained, as much as possible, in their natural state and augmented with rest areas. Protection from erosion and movement through wet areas will be addressed to ensure the environmental integrity of the area.
    
6. New subdivision developments are to be integrated into the overall trail network. Design and construction of asphalt trails will be included as part of the subdivision plans and provide access or linkages to the main trail system. Laneways and sidewalks are to be considered as secondary alternatives. Detailed subdivision planning and engineering review with respect to the sidewalk and trail system will involve recreation services.
    
7. Where feasible, off-street routing be available for bicycling. In areas where off-street routing cannot occur, that bicycle lanes on roadways be considered.
    
8. Hard surfaced trails will provide barrier free access to these trails and to sidewalks so that frail or handicapped individuals can access these areas independently.

9. Where practical, privacy factors will be considered in the design of the trails to buffer trail use from private residences

10. The educational value of the historical landmarks and natural history of the area will be promoted through the development of an interpretive program with appropriate signage.
     
11. Signage will be be placed as needed along the system to provide:
    1. directions to assist the users
    2. advise of trail use restrictions
    3. recognize historically significant landmarks in the community and the natural history (flora and fauna) of the area.

12. Portions of the soft surfaced trails will be designated as off leash areas for dogs.  Dispensers will be installed to provide bags to dog owners for the collection droppings.

13. Where trails intersect roadways at locations other than intersections, signed and marked crosswalks will be created.  Where such locations occur on  primary collector and arterial roads, flashing crosswalk lights will be installed.

14. Where trails enter the street right of way, either connecting to sidewalks or continuing across the street, a barrier of a single or double bollard type will be placed to prevent motor vehicles, ATV's or snow mobiles from entering the trail. Where such trail enter the street right of way collector, primary collector or arterial roads, a barrier will be placed that will require the operator to significantly slow the speed of a bicycle in order to navigate the barrier.

15. Opportunities will be investigated to provide access to potential recreation areas and facilities outside of the Town limits such as the Trans Canada Trail, Alberta Agriculture research facilities and the Lacombe Research Center.
    
16. Seek to obtain agreements from owners to allow development of trails for those sections of the designated network that cross lands that are currently privately held.  Agreements to address liability and protection of private lands will be negotiated. 
    
17. Where a network sidewalk or trail linkage is needed that would be otherwise expected to be funded by property owners or developers, Council may consider funding this linkage in whole or in part with general revenues if private funding can not be obtained.  
     

5.  Specific Development Objectives

1. A sidewalk will be constructed on the north side of Highway 12 east from Highway 2A to serve the Reel to Reel Theatre.

2. Subject to agreement of the affected owners to assume responsibility for local improvements costs, sidewalks will be constructed on one side of roads within those earlier residential areas in which no sidewalks were initially constructed at all.  These areas include Hearthstone, English Estates, Fairway Heights and Michener.
   
3. The individual trail project and improvements recommended by the Trail Committee Report and set out in Appendices A and B of this plan be considered for programming in the operational plans for the years 2005 through 2008.

Operational Objectives
 

1. Develop promotional materials to assist in community awareness and promotion of the trails system. Material would include existing and proposed trails, and trail etiquette. 

2. Foster community involvement in the construction and long-term use and maintenance of the trails
    
3. Identify key locations where users can access the trail system and designate these as trail heads. Amenities such as signage, benches, parking, picnic areas, garbage disposal and washrooms will be provided at trail heads depending on the intensity of use of the trail head and resources available.
    
4. Foster public education and create a climate that values the trails and the intended use of the trail.
    
5. Continuously evaluate the system to address various safety concerns such as trail entry to highways and roadways, methods of reducing speed of cyclists meeting highways and roadways, conflicts among different types of users, the protection of adjacent lands and to determine safety features that could be implemented into the system.
   
6. Develop a trail brochure that provides information on the trails, trail etiquette and safety considerations. 
   
7. Undertake such snow clearing and ice control activities as may be financially possible to facilitate public use in the winter season of the hard surface trails and such portions of the sidewalk network that would not otherwise be maintained by private owners.

Supplemental Information

1. Existing & Proposed 2005 Sidewalk & Trail Network
   
2. Discussion Paper prepared by the Lacombe & District Recreation Parks and Culture Board Trail Committee
   
3. Proposed Route for the Blue Bird Trail/Trans Canada Trail Route through Lacombe
   
4. Resident Trail Survey Summary
   
5. Resident Trail Survey Results