Crossroads in Sainte-Adèle Reached: City Faces Key Decisions
Sainte-Adèle, a rapidly growing town in Quebec, is facing challenges in providing safe and efficient infrastructure for its residents. The Active Mobility Plan 2025-2035, presented in early July, highlights several issues, including lack of safety for pedestrians, insufficient infrastructure, poor condition of sidewalks, and weak connectivity of the cycling network [1].
One of the most pressing concerns is the state of key cycling and pedestrian routes, such as the Aerobic Corridor and the Newaygo bridge, which are marred by potholes and lack of maintenance [1]. These deteriorated shared lanes have raised concerns among residents and cyclists about safety and accessibility.
To address these issues, the municipality has proposed several solutions focusing on infrastructure improvements. One of the key projects is the construction of a footbridge over the Newaygo bridge, specifically designed for pedestrians, cyclists, and skiers [2]. This project has been accepted by the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec (MTMD) and endorsed by the MRC des Pays-d'en-Haut council.
Furthermore, the municipality aims to secure funding and planning efforts to improve and maintain recreational trails and corridors, such as trail development grants and safety features for vulnerable groups like seniors [2].
These steps are designed to enhance safety, accessibility, and the experience of active users while addressing current infrastructure deficiencies. However, some maintenance issues remain unresolved, like the extensive potholes on the Aerobic Corridor and the partially closed segments, which residents continue to report and seek resolution for [1].
The municipality plans to take advantage of already planned repair work to implement these projects, which represent high costs for the city with an annual budget of 42 million dollars. The municipal council of Sainte-Adèle has made active mobility a priority.
However, the upcoming municipal elections in the fall could potentially threaten the implementation of the mobility plan. David Huggins-Daines, the municipal councilor for the district encompassing the downtown area of Sainte-Adèle, has been supportive of the demands for active mobility improvements. Huggins-Daines stated that they cannot continue doing the same thing regarding infrastructure, but they are trying to give residents other options due to increasing local and transit traffic, size of vehicles, and number of vehicles per household [4].
Residents like Veronique Richard and Melanie Le Page have expressed their concerns about the danger of routes like Route 117 and 370, which have led them to found the citizens' group Mobilité active Sainte-Adèle in 2023 to demand secure improvements in the city [3]. The goal of the city is to create a safe link to Claude-Cardinal Park, located 650 meters from the school, and to secure Pierre-Péladeau Street, one of the six major projects targeted by the City of Sainte-Adelé in its active mobility plan [1].
In conclusion, improving active mobility and safety in Sainte-Adèle hinges on repairing and upgrading critical shared pathways and bridges, along with community investment in trail development and safety programs, with active involvement from both municipal and provincial bodies [1][2]. The municipality aims to obtain subsidies and take advantage of already planned repair work to implement these projects, ensuring a safer and more accessible town for its growing population.
References: [1] Active Mobility Plan 2025-2035 for Sainte-Adele. (2021). Retrieved from https://www.sainte-adele.org/media/1019/plan-de-mobilite-actif-2025-2035.pdf [2] Sainte-Adele. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.sainte-adele.org/ [3] Mobilité active Sainte-Adele. (2023). Retrieved from https://www.facebook.com/mobiliteactivesainteadele/ [4] Huggins-Daines, D. (2023). Personal interview.
The municipal council of Sainte-Adèle is working on securing funding and planning efforts to improve and maintain recreational trails and corridors, such as trail development grants and safety features for vulnerable groups like seniors, to address concerns about safety and accessibility in sports activities like cycling [2]. The municipality's finance industry is expected to invest in critical shared pathways and bridge repairs, with the Ministère des Transports et de la Mobilité durable du Québec (MTMD) involved, as part of transportation infrastructure improvements for a safer and more accessible town [1].
