W
hile the goal to complete this trail for Canada’s 150th does not look like it
will be met, Essex County has done its part to fill in the gaps and connect
eight local municipalities to The Great Trail.
The County Wide Active Transportation System in Essex County is a strategic
plan for pedestrians and cyclists. The plan’s goal is to enable residents to “Walk,
Ride, County Wide.” Recently completing 150 kilometres, the CWATS master plan
isn’t quite finished.
“It’s been a long time coming,” said Cathy Copot-Nepszy, the CWATS Active
Transportation Coordinator. “Over the last three years through CWATS, we had three
gaps to close in the trail system.”
Using the Chrysler Canada and Cypher Systems Greenway Trails, all eight
municipalities in Windsor-Essex will be completely connected by the end of 2017.
“About 80 per cent of the trails are off-road and some is paved, like the Herb
Gray Parkway system. Some is the ERCA gravel packed surface that you see on the
Greenway Trail,” said Copot-Nepszy.
“The 150 kilometres was a small piece of what we’re doing this year, but we
wanted to celebrate the connection to the national trail system. It’s quite a big deal,
and to say all eight areas are connected is even bigger.”
CWATS isn’t done yet - they’re still building facilities to accompany the trails
across Essex County this year - and this was only the culmination of five years on
their master plan.
“We’re looking to evaluate what we’re done, what’s changed around us,” said
Copot-Nepszy. “We’re going to evaluate where we’re at and make any necessary
changes to the master plan.”
On the grassroots side of things, Share The Road - Essex County has been hard
at work advocating for safe cycling pathways through Essex County. Since their first
ride in 2005, Share The Road - Essex County has amassed a large social media
following and advised policymakers on the needs of cyclists.
“We keep cyclists informed about the progress being made within the Essex
County Region,” said Sue and Tom Omstead. “We look outward beyond the region to
learn of the latest developments in the field of active transportation and provide
input to local road engineers and policymakers to help ensure their plans are up to
date and as effective as intended.”
Share The Road - Essex County has been excited to see the CWATS master plan
come to life.
“To get the CWATS plan adopted required a long-term vision and the
unanimous approval of Essex County and its seven municipalities,” the Omsteads
explained. “We think it’s remarkable that so many stakeholders came together to
make this plan happen and that there has been five years of implementation since its
adoption.”