Sudbury to hire an active transportation co-ordinator

Sudbury is adding a new active transportation co-ordinator to its municipal staff.

The job is modelled after a similar post in Thunder Bay, where the mobility co-ordinator in thatnorthern Ontario cityhashelped to makesuccessful changes overthe past seven years.

The Sudbury job is a five-yearcontract position. City council budgeted $75,000towards the new role when it approved the2016 budget.

The new hire will focus on municipal projects and development plans centred around cycling and pedestrian infrastructure.

Adam Krupperisthe mobility co-ordinator in Thunder Bay.

Some of his duties include creating and implementingthat city'stransportation plan, as well asco-ordinatinginitiatives in education, partnerships, infrastructure, enforcement and policy development.

Since Thunder Bay hired itsmobility co-ordinator, the cityhasinstalled over 50 kilometres of bike lanes and shared lanes. They'vecreated a cycling education program, held a bike summit and improvedsidewalk development and sidewalk construction.

Chair of the Sudbury Cyclists Union,Rachelle Niemela, saysThunder Bay is at the forefront of cycling.

"They're a northern Ontario city, sothey've got hills,they've got winter and they've got the same kind of conditions we have."She says Sudbury has some catching up to do if we want to build cycling infrastructure to match that of Thunder Bay.

New hire starts this fall

Krupper has some advice for city officials once the Sudbury co-ordinator is in place.

"There's a lot of opportunity to make all sorts of plans and developments better for walking and cycling." says Krupper.

"That person should really be involved in as many of those projects as possible, because they've got a very unique perspective, that benefits everyone."

To the person who will become Sudbury's active transportation co-ordinator, Krupperhopes they thinkbig, but also take publicconcerns to heart when making decisions.

"It's important to listen to the people who are asking for theinfrastructure, understand what they're saying. If[cyclists and pedestrians] are saying they're scared to be on the road, then find the best solution to help."

Kruppersays if Sudbury's new coordinator starts with a project that appeals to all road users, it will set the tone for all future projects."We are all road users."

The city's new active transportation coordinator is expected to be in place this fall.