Report TR-CW-30-17 To: Warden Barfoot and Committee of the Whole From: Pat Hoy, Director of Transportation Services Meeting Date: October 26, 2017 Subject: ATV Access on Grey County Roads Status: Recommendation(s) Committee Report 1. That Report TR-CW-30-17 be received and the continued use of All Terrain Vehicles and Side-by-Side Off Road Vehicles be permitted with the exemption of the roads identified in Schedule A of By-law 4945-16 Off- Road Vehicles on County Roads, and 2. That Schedule A of By-law 4945-16 Off-Road Vehicles on County Roads be updated to amend the following: Licensed and Insured All Terrain Vehicles be allowed on identified Grey County roads from ½ hour before sunrise to ½ hour after sunset between April 15 th and November 17 th 3. That staff be authorized to install signage on roads identified in Schedule A as excluded from By-law 4945-16; and 4. That By-law 4945-16 be reviewed following the completion of the Recreational Trails Master Plan completed by Grey County Planning in 2018. Background Grey County Transportation and Public Safety Committee passed By-law 4945-16 Off- Road Vehicles on County Roads on September 6, 2016 indicating a one year trial period for the use of All Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and side-by-side Off Road Vehicles (ORVs) on Grey County roads, with a few exceptions as listed in Schedule A By-law 4945-16. Generally, the feedback regarding ATVs on Grey County roads has been positive. The ATV presence appears to be fairly minimal as they are typically off road if possible.
Grey County received feedback from the South Bruce Peninsula ATV club requesting: 1. The hours of access be extended to one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset. 2. The dates of access be extended from November 10 to December 31 to encompass deer hunting season. Grey County also received feedback from Owen Sound that actual times would be clearer than the hours defined by sunrise and sunset. Due to the variation in sunrise and sunset from April to November, specific times are not being recommended. Transportation Services is recommending the extension of access to ½ hour before sunrise and ½ hour after sunset. In addition, it would be advisable for the ATVs to be off the road prior to snow, therefore, we are recommending that the last day of ATV access be November 17. Grey County obtained feedback regarding the preferred ATV permitted roads in each municipality. These areas, as well as some identified by staff as facing challenges, are defined in Schedule A By-law 4945-16 of this report. The shared roads with other Counties (Bruce, Dufferin and Simcoe) have been removed from the ATV map as they do not allow ATVs. The current configuration is 498 kilometres of Grey County roads permitted for ATV use and 373 kilometres not permitted. These areas were determined with feedback from the municipalities. Grey County has not yet finalized the agreement with the ATV Clubs regarding any potential repairs that may be required. There are none recorded to date. Grey County would like to revisit the ATV issue in conjunction with the Recreational Trails Master Plan to be completed by Grey County Planning in the winter of 2017/18. Financial/Staffing/Legal/Information Technology Considerations There is an increased liability risk in allowing ATVs and ORVs on Grey County roads. However, no person shall drive an off-road vehicle unless it is insured under a motor vehicle liability policy in accordance with the Insurance Act. There has been a positive effect for local business and tourism. ATV prohibited signs are estimated to cost approximately $115 each to install. At this time, the exact number of signs and the location has not yet been determined. Considering there are over 300 kilometres of prohibited roads, the signage cost will likely exceed $10,000.
Link to Strategic Goals/Priorities 3.1 Partner with sector representatives to support and enhance tourist experiences that strengthen Grey County as a preferred four-season destination. 3.4 Encourage economic and tourism initiatives that support the sustainability, protection, and enhancement of the natural environment 3.7 Continue to implement the Grey County Recreational Trails Strategy and seek opportunities to work with others to expand the county-wide trails network. Attachments TR-TAPS-42-16 ATV Access on Grey County Roads - Schedule A Schedule A By-law 4945-16 ATV Routes Map Grey County 2017 South Bruce Peninsula ATV Club Letter By-law Revision Request 2017 Respectfully submitted by, Pat Hoy Director of Transportation Services
Schedule A By-law 4945-16 Licensed and Insured All Terrain Vehicles will be permitted on all Grey County roads from dawn to dusk a ½ hour before sunrise to a ½ hour after sunset between May 1 st April 15 th and November 10 th November 17 th with the following exceptions: GREY ROAD NO. FROM TO 1 (2 nd Avenue West, Owen 10 th Street West (Owen Sound) 14 th Street West (Owen Sound) Sound) 2 Grey Dufferin Townline Highway 26 4 (10 th Street, Hanover) Bruce County East Hanover Town Limits 4 (Durham Road West, Bruce East Hanover Town Limits Wilcox Lake Road Street North, Lambton Street West, Lambton Street East, Durham Street) 4 30 th Side Road Grey Road 124 5 (2 nd Avenue East, Owen Sound) 1 st Street SW (Owen Sound) 3 rd Street A West (Owen Sound) 7 Sideroad 10b Euphrasia/St. Vincent Townline 9 Melanchthon/Osprey Townline Grey Road 124 (East) 10 South Limit of Grey County Highway 6 12 11 th Line Euphrasia/St. Vincent Townline 13 Grey Road 4 8 th Concession 13 (Matilda Street, Marsh Street, 12 th Concession B Highway 26 Bruce Street South) 14 Artemesia Southgate Townline Grey Road 4 18 Inglis Falls Road Highway 6 and Highway 21 Intersection (Springmount) 19 Grey Road 2 Highway 26 21 Grey Road 19 Highway 26 28 Concession 2 SDR Bruce Road 10 / 7 th Ave (Hanover) 30 Grey Road 12 Grey Road 13 31 Grey Road 124 Grey Road 2 32 Highway 10 Grey Road 30 40 Grey Road 29 Highway 26 113 (Alfred St. West) Grey Road 13 (Bruce Street Highway 26 South) 119 Grey Road 13 Roundabout (Grey Road 19 and Gord Canning Drive intersection) 124 South Limit of Grey County Grey Road 31
ATV Routes Map
September 20, 2017 Pat Hoy Grey County SBPATV has been very happy with the first year trial of the new ATV bylaw in Grey County. We have not been aware of any issues from our riders or any other stakeholders in our region of the county and we look forward to the extension of this bylaw. Upon reviewing the existing bylaw we ask that you consider the following possibilities. The bylaw states we are allowed to ride county roads dawn to dusk. We would like to request to extend the time frame from one hour before sunrise and one hour after sunset. We would appreciate the opportunity to ride during the complete deer hunting season which requires a change from November 10 to December 31 st. We hope you will consider including these revisions into the new bylaw. Sincerely, George Angel South Bruce Peninsula ATV Club