With the Algonquin Trail now open for year round use for ATV’s and snowmobiles in Laurentian Valley, some nearby homeowners have raised concerns about speed, safety and dust in the summer months.

A report was presented to council on Tuesday night (May 3rd, 2022).

The area of concern is a one kilometer section along Burns Drive running from south of Dairy Road to north of Resmer Road..

Options considered by township staff include fencing, cedar hedges, twinning the trail and adding curves at all road intersections to change the trail alignment and force active trail users to slow as they approach the road crossings.

For the 1-kilometer section of trail it would cost $253,500 for a PVC fence, $260,000 for pressure treated lumber fence, $121,500 for cedar hedges or $273,000 to twin the trail.

Councillor Allen Wren suggested putting up gates as close to stop signs as possible to get vehicles to slow down and alleviate speeding problems.

Mayor Steve Bennett says the ATV club is looking at the idea of removable cement planters to slow people down on the trail.

Councillor Brian Hugli says he can’t justify spending a quarter of a million dollars of Laurentian Valley taxpayers money on something that won’t solve the problem and would also take away from the view of the Ottawa River.

Bennett says it’s a county run trail, but runs through Laurentian Valley so they owe something to the residents to do the best they can for them.

Council talked about the possibility of implementing a tax for residents on the section of impacted trail to keep up with any costs associated with potential maintenance.

Councillor Hugli says residents along the trail would argue people using the trail are benefiting and costs should be paid for out of trail passes not out of taxation of residents along the trail.

A meeting with the County of Renfrew Algonquin Trail advisory committee is planned for Thursday, May 5th, 2022, where safety issues will be addressed.