B.C. builds cleaner communities with active transportation

Press Release

March 25, 2024

SOOKE – People will have more opportunities to enjoy multi-use pathways, protected bike lanes, pedestrian bridges and safety improvements as local, regional and Indigenous governments expand their active transportation infrastructure.

For this intake period, $24 million from the Province will support 80 active transportation infrastructure projects in communities around British Columbia. These grants will help local governments plan and build improved connections to work, school and recreational centres, and create infrastructure in communities to support active modes of transportation.

“People are choosing to walk, run and cycle more each year. Our support means communities can think bigger when tackling transportation challenges and providing more options for people to get around,” said Dan Coulter, B.C. Minister of State for Infrastructure and Transit, at an event for two projects in the Vancouver Island community of Sooke.

In Sooke, new projects to build safe, inclusive active transportation connections will give people of all ages healthier and more convenient ways to explore their community. The completion of the Little River Multi-Use Trail will establish a vital link between the Sun River Neighbourhood and Ravens Ridge Park, connecting with Sooke’s town core.

Along Charters Road, safety improvements are being built for cyclists and pedestrians. This project will include extended sidewalks, bike lanes, pedestrian crossing infrastructure and a boulevard enhancement.

“I am thrilled and grateful to see the Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program bolstering our community’s efforts toward a more sustainable and accessible future,” said Maja Tait, mayor of Sooke. “With projects like the Little River Multi-Use Trail and enhancements along Charters Road, we’re improving safety and also fostering a healthier, more connected and resilient community.”

The Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program funds Indigenous, local and regional governments with cost-sharing investments of as much as $500,000 for infrastructure projects, and as much as $50,000 to develop active transportation network plans.

“People in Sooke and across our province are witnessing real, tangible enhancements in their neighbourhoods,” said Ravi Parmar, MLA for Langford-Juan de Fuca. “Promoting active transportation isn’t just about roads and paths, it’s about fostering safer, healthier and more convenient lifestyles for all. By investing in bike lanes, sidewalks, safe routes to schools and trail networks now, we’re laying the foundation for a safer, more interconnected future that benefits everyone.”

The Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program supports the Province’s CleanBC commitment to increase shares of trips by walking, cycling and transit.

Learn More:

B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program:
https://www2.gov.bc.ca/gov/content/transportation/funding-engagement-permits/funding-grants/active-transportation-infrastructure-grants

A backgrounder follows.

Contact:
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Media Relations
250 356-8241

BACKGROUNDER

The Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program offers two grant options: the Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant and the Active Transportation Network Planning Grant.

The 2023-24 grant program will support 59 infrastructure projects and 21 network plans provincewide.

Infrastructure grants

Northern B.C.

• Village of Burns Lake – 2024 Government St. A multi-use pathway connecting people to amenities
• District of Chetwynd – Chetwynd 47 Avenue N.W. Extension of a sidewalk to connect to recreational amenities
• Fort St. John – Lighting improvements for Kin Park, Surerus Park and the Hospital Trail
• Taylor – Lone Wolf Golf Club Trails, Phase 2:  the existing multi-use pathway will be widened
• Northern Rockies Regional Municipality – Multi-use pathway connecting the Fort Nelson Heritage Museum and the Triple G Hideaway campground. Includes seating and rest area
• Smithers – Cycle 16 connector trail, Phase 1 of a multi-use pathway at the west side of the Bulkley River Bridge
• District of Houston – Jamie Baxter Park multi-use pathway to connect residential neighborhoods with downtown amenities
• Lake Babine Nation – Sus Avenue extension of a sidewalk connecting active transportation networks, includes pedestrian rest area and traffic calming
• Dawson Creek – Kin Park Multi-Use Path, connecting existing multi-use pathways to existing trail network
• Vanderhoof – Victoria Street Sidewalk, extension of sidewalk connecting Burrard Avenue to Church Avenue
• Kitimat – Haisla Boulevard Walkway Extension, Phase 1 will extend existing concrete walkway from Kingfisher Avenue to Haisla Boulevard

Kootenays

• Kimberely – Multi-use pathway connecting 103 Avenue to 106 Avenue on Knighton Road
• Nelson – New Waterfront/Trans Canada Trail Multi-Use Path with pedestrian amenities
• East Kootenay Regional District-Electoral Area B – Highway 3 Jaffray Frontage Trail, paved path connecting Rosen Lake Road to end of West Jaffray trails
• Fernie – Closing the Gap, extension of sidewalks to complete current pedestrian network
• Creston – End-of-trip facilities and amenities in the Town of Creston, project to include benches, bike racks and bike repair stands
• Revelstoke – Nichol Road Multi-use Pathway, Phase 2 of a multi-use pathway connecting city centre to mountain resort
• Village of New Denver – Kootenay Street Active Transportation Improvements, new sidewalk with pedestrian safety improvements
• Village of Canal Flats – Shore to Shore Pathway, Phase 1 of the multi-use pathway connecting Canal Falts to Columbia Lake

Thompson Okanagan

• Columbia Shuswap Regional District-Electoral Area F – North Shuswap Parallel Path, Phase 1 of a multi-use pathway connecting Ross Creek Park to Lakeview Park
• District of Peachland – Peachland to West Kelowna Multi-Use Pathway to connect Peachland to West Kelowna
• District of Summerland – Victoria Road Active Transportation Corridor, multi-use pathway connecting to existing active transportation corridors
• West Kelowna – Shannon Lake Road Active Transportation Corridor, bike lanes and sidewalks connecting the Westbank First Nations and the regional park trail network
• Kelowna – Rail Trail to Greenway ATC, extension of protected bike lanes to Leckie Road and the existing multi-use pathway
• Oliver – Enhancing Active transportation Amenities in Oliver, installation of amenities and end-of-trip facilities for pedestrians and cyclists.
• Penticton – Lake to Lake Bike Route, section 1 of a protected bike lane
• Salmon Arm – Downtown to Uptown Connection, multi-use pathway to replace a section of sidewalk. Will include upgraded signage and pavement markings
• Canim Lake Band-Tsq’escen First Nations – Tsq’escan First Nation Accessible Community Multi-Purpose Trail, multi-use pathway connecting the east and main subdivisions
• Village of Clinton – Pedestrian Improvements, sidewalk upgrades of the pedestrian corridor along Highway 97 from Cariboo Avenue to McDonal Avenue

South Coast

• Chilliwack – Keith Wilson Corridor Improvement Project, multi-use pathway and painted bike lanes. Includes lighting, drainage and intersection safety improvements
• Port Coquitlam – Kingsway Avenue Multi-Use Pathway connecting Coast Meridian Overpass to Kebet Way
• Richmond – No.2 Road Multi-Use Pathway connecting Steveston Highway to Williams Road
• New Westminster – Boyd Street Active Transportation Improvements, multi-use pathway connecting Richmond to the Queensborough Bridge. Part of TransLink’s Major Bikeway Network
• Vancouver – Drake Street Upgrades, protected bike lanes connecting Drake Street to Pacific Boulevard
• Delta – 116 Street and 75A Avenue Intersection Improvements, new traffic signal and bike lanes on a collector roadway that serves transit
• Delta – Nicholson Road and Chateau Wynd Crosswalk, new actuated crosswalk with pedestrian lights
• District of Hope, Richmond Hill Multi-Use Pathway connecting the Silver Creek neighbourhood to amenities
• Soda Creek Indian Band-Xatsull First Nation – Multi-Use Path along Mountain House Road connecting the reservation end to end

Vancouver Island and Gulf Islands

• Capital Regional District, Pender Island – Schooner Way-School trail, Phase 1 of a multi-use trail connecting Danny Martin Park with commercial areas
• Capital Regional District-Salt Spring Island – Merchant Mews Pathway Project, pedestrian pathway adjacent to Upper Ganges Road
• Capital Regional District – Regional trails Widening and Lighting Project, Phase A of the project enhances sections of the Galloping Goose Regional Trail
• Colwood – Wale Road and Wilfert Road Intersection, intersection reconstruction to include multi-use pathway
• Comox Valley Regional District – Royston Road Mixed-Use Path, multi-use pathway with physical separation from vehicle traffic
• District of Sooke – Little River Multi-Use Trail, multi-use pathway connecting neighbourhoods to town centre
• Comox – Beaufort Avenue Upgrade, sidewalk connecting Church Street to Nordin Street
• Victoria – Gorge Road Multi-Modal Corridor Improvements, protected bike lanes and pedestrian improvements
• Courtenay – Lake Trail Multi-Use Pathway connecting Webb Road to Lake Trail school
• Courtenay – 5th Street Bike Lanes and Intersection Enhancements for Improved Safety, protected bike lanes connecting to the downtown core
• Oak Bay – McNeill Avenue Active Transportation and Traffic Calming Project, Phase 1 includes shared use lanes for bikes and pedestrian safety improvements.
• Qualicum Beach – Waterfront Bicycle Accessible Shoulder and Pedestrian Safety, bicycle-accessible shoulder along Highway 19A to enhance pedestrian and cyclist safety
• Nanaimo – Beban Labieux Trail, multi-use pathway in Beban Park connecting the existing network of trails
• Nanaimo – Departure Bay Road South Sidewalk-Alan-A-Dale to Wardropper Park, extension of sidewalk between Alan-A-Dale Pl and Wardropper Park
• Sooke – Active Transportation Charters Road South Streetscape, improving pedestrian crossings and creating a protected bike lane.
• Saanich – Sinclair Road Upgrades, bike lanes and new sidewalks with multi-use pathways
• Central Saanich – Mt Newton Pathway, Phase 1 improvements to existing pathway to make it multi-use pathways
• Langford – Bellamy Road Multi-Use Pathway, extension of the Phelps connector trail connecting Thetis Lake Regional Park to Bellamy Link
• Langford – Veterans Memorial Parkway Intersection Improvements, intersection improvements at Goldstream Avenue and Veterans Memorial Parkway
• Port Hardy – Columbia/Huddlestan Trail Connector, sidewalk extension connecting municipal hall to existing trail network
• Bowen Island Municipality – Multi-Use Path-Charlies Lane to Grafton Lake, Phase 4 of a multi-use path with mode separation

Network Plans

• Daylu Dena Council – Elevating Active Transportation in Lower Post: The Wooden Sidewalk Project, plan will lay out the groundwork for adding wooden sidewalks
• Regional District of East Kootenay – Fernie Valley Pathway, plan focuses on alignment and preliminary design of a multi-use pathway
• North Coast Regional District – Electoral Area D Active Transportation Network Plan will include stakeholder engagement and accessibility amenities
• Skowkale First Nation – Chilliwack River Road Multi-Purpose Walking Path, plan for a multi-use pathway to enhance the safety of pedestrians and cyclists
• Metchosin – District of Metchosin Active Transportation Network Plan, plan to develop active transportation infrastructure in order to curb GHG emissions
• Village of Nakusp – Nakusp Active Transportation Infrastructure Development Plan, plan to deliver a comprehensive strategic framework for accessible trail planning and construction
• Coldstream – District of Coldstream Active Transportation Network Plan to improve connectivity and improve current multi-use pathways
• Logan Lake – Logan Lake Active Transportation Network Plan will create a link to existing trail networks
• Songhees Nation – Songhees Nation Active Transportation Plan will create comprehensive strategies for improving active transportation trail network
• Tahltan Band Council – Telegraph Creek Community Walking Trails Revitalization Plan will include consultation and mapping for proposed trail networks
• Capital Regional District-Juan de Fuca Electoral Area – Juan de Fuca Electoral Area Active Transportation Network Plan to improve public safety and access to active transportation
• Stewart – Active Transportation Network Plan-District of Stewart to identify and prioritize projects for the active transportation network plan
• Wiliams Lake – City of Williams Lake Active Transportation Network Plan will facilitate the development of new active transportation routes
• Regional District of Kootenay Boundary-Electoral Area C – Christina Lake Active Transportation Network Plan and Pedestrian Bridge Design will focus on shifting active transportation users from Highway 3 to an internal trail network
• Village of Masset – Village of Masset Active Transportation Network Plan will map key walking and cycling routes
• Strathcona Regional District – Area C Active Transportation Network Plan will include site assessments and data collection for an implementation plan
• Village of Cache Creek – Active Downtown Action Plan prioritizes the creation of interconnected pedestrian routes that link key destinations
• Fort St. James partnering with Nak’azdli Whut’en – Fort St. James & Nak’azdli Whut’en Active Transportation Plan will create a network strategy for people to go between the town and reservation
• Dawson Creek – City of Dawson Creek Transportation Master Plan will include public engagement to develop active transportation facilities and pedestrian improvements
• North Cowichan – Sherman Road Concept Plan will develop a concept of infrastructure to accommodate pedestrians and cyclists along the Sherman Road corridor
• Pacheedaht First Nation – Pacheedaht First Nation Active Transportation Network Plan Initiative will involve community engagement on future active transportation pathways

Contact:
Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure
Media Relations
250 356-8241

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