New Master Plan Makes Mississauga More Accessible for Pedestrians

Today at General Committee, Council endorsed the City’s first-ever Pedestrian Master Plan, which will guide pedestrian infrastructure projects until 2041. The focus of the plan is on making walking in Mississauga more accessible. The plan outlines how the City will invest and build pedestrian infrastructure in Mississauga that is connected, safe and accessible for anyone traveling by foot or using a mobility device. Using the plan, the City will improve the pedestrian network, infrastructure, policies, programs and environment.

“Walking is the most sustainable form of transportation in Mississauga. It promotes active and healthy lifestyles. By adding more sidewalks, people of all ages and abilities have the freedom to move freely and comfortably around the city without barriers,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie. “The approved Pedestrian Master Plan moves us closer to achieving our Vision Zero and Transportation Master Plan goals of providing safe places for people to travel on foot and use mobility-devices and other methods of active transportation.”

The Pedestrian Master Plan supports the City’s commitment to reducing the annual number of fatal and serious injury collisions to zero. The plan lays out a vision, four goals, a long-term pedestrian network and 68 action items that will help achieve several of the City’s strategic and transportation plans related to walking, including the City’s Official Plan, Strategic Plan, Transportation Master Plan, Vision Zero and Changing Lanes.

“The plan’s strategies and actions lay the groundwork for improving the accessibility, comfort, convenience and safety of walking around Mississauga,” said Geoff Wright, Commissioner, Transportation & Works. “Through Vision Zero, the City is prioritizing the safety of vulnerable road users, with a major focus on pedestrians. This means ensuring the pedestrian network is safe and comfortable and that sidewalks and trails are better connected and accessible. Our priority is to develop a network that provides people with comfortable choices for how they get around our city.”

The Pedestrian Master Plan identifies 1,167 kilometres of new pedestrian infrastructure, with 232 kilometres of new sidewalks in high priority locations as part of the long-term pedestrian network. The City will be building the high priority sidewalks within a period of 30 years at a cost of $3.1 million annually.

“This would be a significant improvement over the current level of funding. It allows for strategic additions to the pedestrian network and more effective co-ordination with road rehabilitation and major road improvement projects,” said Helen Noehammer, Director, Infrastructure Planning and Engineering Services. “We used an objective, Geographic Information Systems-based prioritization method which uses a list of variables and criteria to identify gaps and inconsistencies throughout the city’s pedestrian network. This prioritization criteria was developed in collaboration with staff and feedback from the community.”

To read the Pedestrian Master Plan, visit yoursay.mississauga.ca/pedestrian-master-plan

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• Plans and Strategies
• Public Safety
• Roads and Traffic