$6.8M bill to weatherproof Waterfront Trail?
‘Wake-up call’ report heads to council Friday
The city is looking at a price tag as high as $6.8 million to protect the storm-battered Waterfront Trail from future weather damage after historically high water levels flooded large sections of the path in 2017.
A preliminary investigation from coastal engineering specialist Shoreplan Engineering recommends “full scale” shoreline protection measures for the popular trail around the western harbour in a report going to councillors Friday.
The recommended measures include in-water work such as excavating the lower shoreline embankment to allow for appropriate slope protection along the 2,000-metre trail, according to the information report.
This action would also ensure any other areas of the trail with less than the recommended protection are found and fully reinforced.
The report indicates staff are looking at opportunities for grants and other funding sources to help with the cost of the work.
Ward Coun. Jason Farr said while the price of the protection measures is steep, the trail, which runs from Bayfront Park to the floating bridge on the Desjardins Canal, is widely used — not only recreationally but also as a commuter path from north Hamilton to the city’s west end.
“It’s a big price tag, but given the nature of the use and the significance of this trail ... it’s one we’re going to have to very seriously deliberate over,” he added.
Currently, blue temporary fencing and painted lines on the asphalt path are being used to cordon off damaged areas from trail users due to safety concerns.
Under Sunday’s sunny skies, Ken Bradley rode his red e-bike along the trail that he visits at least a couple times each week.
The 89-year-old was one of dozens of walkers, cyclists and in-line skaters on the trail Sunday.
The Waterfront Trail has witnessed a daily average of 954 users this year — a number that spikes over the warmer months.
Given its popularity, Bradley said he would support spending whatever it takes to complete the repairs on the paved path.
“The erosion — it will continue presumably without doing something,” he added.
According to the report, construction of the recommended measures would protect the trail against future major weather events up to the so-called 100year storms, which are thought to be occurring more frequently due to climate change.
Farr called the serious damage, which closed the trail for much of last year, a “wake-up call” to a problem that’s not going to go away.
“A do-nothing scenario isn’t anything that I’m on for,” he said.
“We need to take into account that global warming is bringing us these big bills, and where we have a significant piece of real estate like this that’s widely used and quite obviously widely appreciated from people all over the city, if not elsewhere, we should probably be responsible in our budgeting for these things.”
The report said staff have submitted a 2019 capital budget request of $150,000 to move forward with the detailed design work needed to prepare tender documentation for construction.
Once the request is approved, staff will begin co-ordinating with regulatory bodies such as the Hamilton Conservation Authority, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry to acquire permitting in case the construction is approved.
The estimated construction cost of $6.8 million would be put off until 2020, the report reads.
While the Waterfront Trail was the hardest hit in 2017, with more than 900 square metres of paved pathway having broken and shoreline areas seriously damaged or washed out, the weather also substantially affected the Beachfront Trail and Fifty Road Parkette.
A study of all of the city-owned shoreline properties along Lake Ontario is underway and is expected to result in recommendations for future protection at all of these locations.