Grantham Rail Trail

The City of St. Catharines is committed to improving active transportation options and expanding the range of alternatives for travelling around the City. As part of these efforts, the existing Grantham Rail Trail (between Roehampton Avenue and Parnell Road) is being transformed into a 3.65 kilometres multi-use pathway through the construction of a 3-metre-wide asphalt surface on City property, which will create a year-round active transportation route, connecting neighbourhoods to schools, parks, shopping areas, and employment opportunities.

Project Benefits

These active transportation infrastructure enhancements will help promote and provide opportunities for improvements to social well-being regardless of income status, age, and ability. Through active living, both physical and mental health can be enhanced. These types of projects will also help advance St. Catharines' climate change objectives. Currently, the transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gases, accounting for about 47% of all emissions. Providing alternatives to motorized vehicles will help reduce greenhouse gas emissions, improve air quality, and provide fuel cost savings to residents.

The proposed Grantham Rail Trail improvements were identified through the City's recently approved Transportation Master Plan (TMP), which was developed following the Municipal Class Environmental Assessment (EA) process. The Municipal EA process included significant public and stakeholder engagement, where the trail has been noted as a significant 'missing link' that will benefit from completing these trail surface and connection improvements. The TMP focuses on moving the City forward by creating a connected transportation network that includes active uses.

These improvements will enhance this trail network's multi-modal connectivity as both a transportation route and a neighbourhood destination supporting a full range of mobility choices. It will be an age-friendly, inclusive, and accessible active transportation option for non-motorized vehicles. A hard surface can be appropriately maintained twelve months of the year and is necessary to promote a maintainable trail that allows for safe winter and wet-weather travel. Hard surfaces are also superior to granular surfaces, including for those with mobility devices and bicycles with skinny tires.

This trail upgrade will improve the north-south trail link for nearby neighbourhoods, connect parks, open spaces to residences, and enhance recreation opportunities. These trail improvements will also provide many active transportation options; given the connectivity that this trail offers between so many different types of land uses, this trail supports the City's efforts to increase the supply of alternative transportation routes for non-recreational trips to allow for residents to commute to work, travel to school or visit a store without having to use a personal motor vehicle.

A shift from motorized transportation to active transportation has the potential for societal benefits such as reduced emissions of air pollutants and greenhouse gases, reduced traffic noise, and more liveable neighbourhoods with less motor vehicle traffic.

Project Status and Next Steps

The design-build project was approved by City Council on February 28, 2022, and includes:

• Reconstruction of the existing rail trail to a 3-metre-wide multi-use asphalt trail.
• Drainage improvements, including culvert installation.
• Sidewalk and accessible curb ramp improvements.
• Installation of trail connections and sidewalk extensions to existing sidewalks and pathways.
• Installation of trail furnishings, such as entrance gates, benches, and waste receptacles.

The design-build contract for this trail improvements project has been awarded to Rankin Construction Inc. and is in the detailed design phase, with construction expected to start mid to late August 2022.

Public Information Centre

A Public Information Centre has been arranged to provide an opportunity for individuals, interest groups and agencies to review the design drawings. A hybrid model of the Public Information Centre will occur with the drawings being available online, as well as at an in-person meeting. Staff from the City of St. Catharines and our Design-Build contractor will be available at the in-person meeting to answer any questions, as well questions can be submitted through this platform. The in‑person meeting will be an informal event where attendees can arrive anytime throughout the meeting to review the drawings and ask questions.

The In-Person Information Centre will be held on:

This portal will be live from July 19 to 29, 2022.

Review proposed plans:

Grantham Rail Trail - Design Build Project - PIC Drawings

We thank you in advance for your support of efforts to improve active transportation in the City.

If you have any questions or require further information, please contact one of the Project Team members identified below. With the exception of personal information, comments will be part of the public record.

Jim Stranges, C.E.T.

Project Supervisor

City of St. Catharines

50 Church Street P.O. Box 3012

St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2

Tel.: (905) 688-5601 ext. 1606

Email: jstranges@stcatharines.ca

Adam Keane, P.Eng.

Design-Build Prime Consultant

Upper Canada Consultants

261-1 Martindale Road

St. Catharines, ON L2W 1A1

Tel.:(905) 688-9400

Email: adam@ucc.com