City of Windsor – Transport Terminal Land Use Study – 2020 November 16

Complete Streets Policy (Pending) – Complete streets are multi-modal streets that are designed, operated, and maintained to allow for the safe, convenient, and comfortable travel of all users. This includes anyone who may be using the street, including (but not limited to) pedestrians, cyclists, transit riders, and motor vehicle users, regardless of their age, ability, or income level. Street users must be able to move along a complete street right-of-way and across complete street designated locations at ease and barrier-free. The study should begin shortly and be completed in 2021.

Windsor Area Long Range Transportation Study (WALTS), completed in 1999, provides a “master plan to guide future development of transportation services in the Windsor area”. The importance of the Windsor/Detroit crossings in international trade and transportation is noted. The Ambassador Bridge also has the highest commercial crossings (trucks) in North America. The report notes that the community wants international transportation that is effective, timely and convenient.

There are potential roles for air, rail, and marine service regarding inter-regional, provincial, and national transportation functions. However, they each require inter-modal connections primarily with the study area’s roadway system. Direction is offered for improved truck route planning and management, including integration of City and County routes. The report notes that the truck route network is “strongly oriented to the arterial roadway grid and industrial districts”.

Emissions of Sounds By-law 6716 provides for the regulation, reduction, control, and prohibition of sound and vibration. It may be referred to as the ‘Noise By-law’. Section 2 prohibits several sound emissions including operating an engine without an effective exhaust or muffling device, and operating a trailer resulting in banging, clanking, or other like sounds due to an improperly secured load. Staff indicate they occasionally receive complaints when backup beepers on trucks activate or when trucks release their air brakes, however B/L 6716 does not cover those noise emissions.

Idling By-law 233-2001 prohibits excessive idling of vehicles and boats, including commercial motor vehicles, throughout the City of Windsor. The purpose of this by-law is to reduce major sources of air pollutants by reducing vehicle emissions that may contribute to adverse health effects, climate change and poor air quality. Idle is defined as:

“the operation of the engine of a Boat, Motor Vehicle or Commercial Motor Vehicle while the Boat, Motor Vehicle or Commercial Motor Vehicle is not in motion and not being used to operate auxiliary equipment that is essential to the basic function of the Boat, Motor Vehicle or Commercial Motor Vehicle, and “idling” has a corresponding meaning”.

Vehicles are prohibited from idling for more than three continuous minutes except where a CMV is assisting in an emergency activity, being repaired or prepared for service, remaining motionless due to a situation that a driver has no control over, when specific inside temperature thresholds are met, or temporarily halting to obey a traffic control device or an official.

Licensing By-law 395-2004 provides for the licensing, regulating, and governing of businesses within the City of Windsor. A Transport Terminal does not require a business licence. Although no longer a requirement under the Municipal Act, the City of Windsor issues municipal business licences based on three components: 1) consumer protection; 2) health and safety; and 3) nuisance prevention.

Parking By-law 9203 prohibits vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of 3,000 kg or more from parking on roads that are not designated trucks routes. Transportation Planning notes that the GVWR in the Traffic By-law was updated to 4,500 kg. It recommends a housekeeping amendment to the Parking By-law to match the GVWR in the Traffic By-law.