Date:
Rocky View County identified a pathway along Highway 8 within the Parks and Open Space Master Plan, adopted by County Council in 2011. This proposed pathway would become part of the TransCanada Trail network and eventually reach all the way to Bragg Creek.
On Wednesday, June 20th from 4-8 pm there will be an Open House at Elbow Springs Golf Club, 240086 Lott Creek Drive. Here, design concepts and potential pathway alignments will be discussed. We are also in need of ‘Pathway Champions,’ enthusiastic individuals who would like to be part of a Highway 8 Pathway Committee who will help to move this project forward.
What we’ll talk about
• Design concepts and potential pathway alignments.
• Pathway champions! Innovative partnerships and enthusiastic individuals to form a Highway 8 Pathway Committee is essential to move this project forward.
Rocky View County and the TransCanada Trail identified a pathway from the City of Calgary to Bragg Creek as a crucial linkage in the coast to coast pathway system,
eventually becoming the world’s longest trail. With plans to twin Highway 8 from the City of Calgary to Highway 22 in the future, now is the time to discuss the potential for an adjacent multi-use pathway.
For more information please contact:
Municipal Lands | Rocky View County
T: 403.230.1401
E: letstalktrails@rockyview.ca
Brian Conger | AECOM
T: 403.270.4856
E: brian.conger@aecom.com
File attachments:
| Attachment | Size |
|---|---|
 Highway 8 Proposed Pathway.pdf | 785.9 KB |
Comments
I am away on holidays... but
Submitted by NW_Tri_and_Bike on
The configuration on this project needs to relflect who will be using it so a narrow city of Calgary style path will be a disaster and lead to riders saying screw it and riding on the highway.
really?
Submitted by mikewarren on
A nice wide path would be awesome, but I think something like the City pathways would be fairly well used. Even on a nice sunny Saturady, you're not passing *that* many cyclists out towards Bragg Creek. Have you checked out the Glenbow Ranch trails?
pathway v. road
Submitted by 2wheeler on
Maybe from the perspective of the people who are training for a race or are going to ride in the on their aero bars a pathway wouldn't be ideal. Especially for goups of riders >4 with oncoming users. I think these kind of riders makes up a large contingent of the Bragg Creek tourers. Personally I don't mind HWY #8, especially coming home with a strong tailwind!
no matter what...
Submitted by mikewarren on
...there will always be people on the road, I'd say. Despite better routes, there's usually someone on the trans-canada shoulder, for example. I didn't mean to suggest that an "okay" bike path should be built *instead* of a proper shoulder!
Ditto highway 8: there's better ways, for sure, but I use it fairly often and it's not that bad (especially if it's swept).
So, is it swept?
Submitted by mercator on
The section from 69St to the city limits was a mess the last couple times I went that way. I've been avoiding it.
Reference: Banff trail
Submitted by RichieRich on
Although I haven't yet used the Banff Trail, there was quite a bit of discussion last year re: effectiveness of the Banff Trail. It's reasonably safe to assume that a study of that Trails usage (perhaps in an appropriate public survey) and possibly even a discussion on Bike Calgary Forums would result in more factually-based approach to the Highway 8 proposal.
As NWT&B above says, if it's a narrow path the utilization will be low. As someone who road rides a lot the path would need to consider the following:
- build quality (ie road quality)
- trail width
- speed limit? (this isn't a downtown MUP)
- purpose (for recreation speeds? training speeds allowed?, group usage? etc...)
- would the presence of the trail imply that existing on-road usage would terminate or be discouraged against?
- how would they handle all the community roads along the way?
- cleaning and clearing
New Herald Article on Highway 8
Submitted by bclark on
http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/calgary/Rocky+View+County+proposes+pathway+along+busy+Highway/6807759/story.html