New Tecumseth picks consultant for trail design 

By Brad Pritchard Alliston Herald

A contractor has been chosen to handle the design work for the remaining sections of the Trans Canada Trail (TCT) north of Beeton.

At last week’s committee of the whole meeting, New Tecumseth council voted to award the contract to MMM Group-WSP of Kitchener for $99,455 plus taxes.

A 15 per cent contingency, or $15,000, is also being included.

The contract is for the design, tender and construction management services for phases 2b and 2d. The tenders for the construction work won’t be issued until the spring.

Phase 2b, located near W.D. Potato between the 10th Line and 10 Sideroad, will be developed along a portion of the town-owned abandoned rail corridor and a section of 10 Sideroad.

Phase 2d, located at the north end of the trail where it connects into Innisfil, will run from the 13th to 14th lines and be aligned south of the Edwards’ farm property.

The town expects construction of both sections to be completed before the end of the year.

Ward 5 Coun. and farmer Donna Jebb, who has fought against the project since it began in 2012, expressed her opposition to the plan.

She is concerned the town is duplicating a long-term trail project Simcoe County is planning that will run through Tottenham, Beeton and across the 13th Line of New Tecumseth to County Road 27.

“I’m worried we are going to dry out the development charges on this trail and we’re not going to have anything left for anything else,” she said. “And why would we duplicate it when the county already has it in its plan?”

Ward 4 Coun. Fran Sainsbury said it makes more sense to keep “forging ahead,” noting how TCT, which has provided $414,000 in grants for the project, expects the town to meet its timelines.

MMM Group-WSP has also been selected to handle additional design/trail alignment tasks for three other sections of the trail.

These include sections between the 4th and 5th lines, which will link the trail from Coventry Park north to the 5th Line; between the 5th and 8th lines, which is proposed to be developed parallel to the South Simcoe Heritage Railway using private land; and between the 8th and 9th lines, which is proposed to be built along Dayfoot Street in Beeton to connect to the trail at the 9th Line, though an alternative path along the Beeton Creek may also be considered.

This work will cost the town $22,825 plus taxes. A contingency of 15 per cent, or $3,425, is also being included.

Council will vote whether to ratify these decisions at next week’s regular meeting.

Other trail work to take place this year includes the design and construction of a fabricated bridge for a railway crossing north of the 9th Line.