Background

In 2019, Council approved a capital project to review safety conditions at 17 Friendship Trail road crossings throughout the Town. The crossings reviewed as part of the study include:
  • Holloway Bay Road
  • Matthews Road
  • Point Abino Road
  • Cherry Hill Boulevard
  • Prospect Point Road
  • Burleigh Road
  • Bernard Avenue
  • Centralia Avenue
  • Windmill Point Road
  • Stonemill Road
  • Bertie Bay Road
  • Rosehill Road, Buffalo Road
  • Crescent Road
  • Kraft Road
  • Edgemere Road
  • Helena Street.

The project included funding for a consultant-led study to assess existing conditions, review best practices from other Ontario municipalities, and recommend improvements to enhance safety for both trail users and motorists. Funding was also approved to implement recommended improvements.

In 2020, the Town’s Active Transportation Master Plan identified improving safety and user comfort within the active transportation network as a priority.

The Friendship Trail Safety Study, completed in 2024, reviewed crossing conditions, signage, visibility, and cyclist and pedestrian safety at all 17 locations. The study identified several areas where safety improvements are needed, including enhanced warning signage, improved visibility, and more consistent crossing treatments. Concerns were also identified regarding the condition and visibility of existing wooden bollards, some of which have deteriorated over time.

Next Steps

Based on the study recommendations, the Town will begin implementing several priority safety improvements, including:

  • Replacing existing bollards with high-visibility bollards
  • Removing overgrown vegetation to improve sightlines
  • Installing advance warning signage at trail crossings
  • Adding pavement markings, including yield lines (“shark teeth”), to improve driver awareness

These improvements will be completed at all 17 Friendship Trail crossing locations.

As the full implementation costs exceed the current approved budget, the Town will focus first on the highest-priority safety improvements. Additional recommendations from the study will be considered as part of future trail improvement projects.

Future Works

The Friendship Trail is currently scheduled for larger rehabilitation projects in 2029 and 2033. As part of those future works, additional accessibility improvements, including tactile walking surface indicators at urban and suburban crossings, will be reviewed and implemented where appropriate.

The Town will continue to monitor conditions along the Friendship Trail and consider community feedback related to safety and user experience.