Grants for cycling, walking paths support sustainability

by ahnationtalk on March 27, 202533 Views

March 27, 2025

Cyclists and walkers will enjoy more multi-use pathways, protected bike lanes, pedestrian bridges, and safety improvements as the Province helps local governments expand their active transportation infrastructure.

“With this funding, we’re helping communities across B.C. build a more sustainable future,” said Mike Farnworth, Minister of Transportation and Transit. “By connecting communities with dedicated active transportation infrastructure, we’re encouraging people to cycle, walk or roll, which is good for our health and lessens our reliance on passenger vehicles.”

A new round of provincial funding is supporting 53 active transportation infrastructure projects in B.C. communities. Additionally, nine communities are receiving funding to create network plans for future active transportation. These communities are benefiting from $24 million in provincial funding.

The grants will improve connections to employment, school, transit and recreational centres throughout the province.

The Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program funds Indigenous, local and regional governments with cost-sharing investments of up to $500,000 for infrastructure projects and as much as $50,000 in funding to develop active transportation network plans. These projects make it safer and more efficient for people to use active transportation in their communities.

Since 2020, the Province has funded 327 projects across 187 communities through the Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants program, supporting the Province’s CleanBC commitment to increase shares of trips by walking, cycling and transit.

Learn More:

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

A backgrounder follows.

Backgrounders

Active-transportation projects slated for B.C. communities

In 2024-25, the Province is providing $24 million for 53 active transportation projects.

Northern B.C.

Burns Lake – 2025 Government Street multi-use pathway
Active transportation between the high school, the Ts’il Kaz Koh First Nation Office, a daycare and Head Start program, college, senior housing and downtown commercial areas will be provided by a multi-use path, sidewalk, two street crossings, one pedestrian-activated crosswalk, a bench and a rest area.
Chetwynd – Chetwynd 46 Street Northeast sidewalk extension
Installation of sidewalk connecting an elementary school to a residential subdivision.
Dawson Creek (1) – Kin Park trail lighting
Installation of lighting along approximately 2.5 kilometres of existing pathway to improve safety.
Dawson Creek (2) – Rotary trail/MUP 17th Street bypass
New multi-use trail connecting existing trail networks.
Fort St. John (1) – 2025 trail lighting
Improving safety by adding lighting to approximately 1.6 km of existing trail.
Fort St. John (2) – 2025 Kin Park trail connections
New multi-use path through Kin Park, complete with a pedestrian boardwalk, lighting, and wayfinding.
Smithers – Main Street active transportation improvements
New multi-use pathway connecting downtown Smithers to the Fulton Avenue multi-use pathway, as well as a multi-use pathway connecting to existing multi-use pathways on HWY 16 and Fulton Ave.
Telkwa – Hankin Avenue paved path adjacent to school
New multi-use path adjacent to an elementary school.
Terrace – North Thomas Street reconstruction
Full reconstruction of North Thomas Street, including upgraded sidewalk, improved accessibility, and new and upgraded multi-use pathways.
Tumbler Ridge – Downtown core sidewalk replacement
Sidewalk replacement in the downtown core, improving public safety and encouraging active transportation.

Kootenays

Cranbrook – McPhee Road corridor improvements
Construction of multi-use pathway along McPhee Road from Theatre Road to Industrial Road F.
Invermere (1) – 10th Street end-of-trip facility
End-of-trip facility located at 10th Street and 8th Avenue in downtown Invermere consisting of a washroom building, e-bike charging station, walking trail network signage, and an end-of-trip bike service facility (including repair station, pump, wash station, installation kit).
Invermere (2) – Tarte Street trail
Approximately 325 metres of multi-use path connecting existing active-transportation facilities.
Kimberley – Marsden Street active-transportation project
Approximately 191 metres of sidewalk connecting to the city’s skate and bike park, as well as other recreation amenities.
Regional District of Kootenay Boundary (Electoral Area ‘C’/Christina Lake) – Christina Creek active transportation bridge
New bridge across Christina Creek, providing a safer and more direct route for pedestrians and cyclists, and diverting users away from the highway.
Rossland – Centennial Trail improvements
Safety and accessibility improvements on the Centennial Trail multi-use pathway that serves as an inter-community link from Red Mountain Resort, through Rossland and Warfield, to Trail.

Thompson Okanagan

Kelowna (1) – Rutland neighbourhood bikeway (Phase 1: Houghton to Rutland Recreation Park)
1.2 km of AAA neighbourhood bikeway increasing connectivity between a residential neighbourhood, local park, the YMCA and a secondary school.
Kelowna (2) – KLO Road bridge replacement
The project consists of the replacement of the KLO Bridge and newly constructed AT facilities that connect adjacent neighbourhoods to the Mission Creek Greenway.
Lake Country – Construction on Lodge Road-Sherman Drive to Woodsdale Road
Improvements to the Lodge Road corridor and Rail Trail, including paving, curb, gutter and sidewalk, transit stop access, transit stop improvements and intersection reconfiguration to improve pedestrian visibility and activated beacons at crossings.
Oliver – Raised crosswalks with multi-mode accessibility considerations
The installation of two raised crosswalks that will improve Oliver’s existing active-transportation network. First at McKinney Road at Coyote Street, and a second at Fairview Road at Dividend Street.
Peachland – Peachland to West Kelowna multi-use pathway Phase II
Multi-use path connecting Peachland to West Kelowna
Revelstoke – Pearkes Drive multi-use pathway
New multi-use pathway along Pearkes Drive connecting the existing greenbelt pathway to Colbeck Road.
West Kelowna – Horizon Drive active transportation corridor
Providing an active-transportation corridor, including sidewalks, neighborhood bikeways and painted bike lanes, linking Highway 97 to Westlake Road, as well as the Westbank First Nation and nearby neighborhoods.

South Coast

Bowen Island – Multi-use path, Charlies Lane to Forster Lane
Multi-use pathway along Grafton Road from Charlies Lane to Forester Lane.
Chilliwack (1) – McIntosh active transportation improvement project
Approximately 450 metres of multi-use pathway (MUP) connecting a middle school and pedestrian rail tunnel.
Chilliwack (2) – Edward to Mary active transportation improvement project
Multi-use pathway starting at the Edward St. frontage of 45489 Bernard Ave, travelling along Menholm Road, and ending at the corner of Hodgins Ave and Mary Street.
Coquitlam – Pipeline Road active transportation improvements
New sidewalks and new separated cycle tracks, pathway lighting, and protected only phasing for vulnerable road users between Guildford Way and David Avenue. Additionally, new bidirectional micromobility facilities will be constructed between Lincoln Avenue and Guildford Way.
Delta (1) – 56 Street multi-use pathway (6 Avenue to 8A Avenue)
New multi-use pathway connecting to an existing multi-use pathway and local park.
Delta (2) – River Road protected cycle lanes (68 Street to Deas Island Road)
New protected bike lanes connecting to recently installed bike lanes from 68 Street to Deas Island Road.
Greater Vancouver Sewerage and Drainage District (Metro Vancouver) – Iona Island Wastewater Treatment Plant upgrades – causeway improvements
New bike lanes and multi-use pathways connecting Sea Island and the Iona Beach Regional Park.
Langley (Township) (1) – Fraser Highway widening: 24300-24600 block, north side
Approximately 800 metres of multi-use pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, including street lighting, landscaping and intersection upgrades.
Langley (Township) (2) – Fraser Highway Widening: 24300 – 24600 block, south side
Approximately 800 metres of multi-use pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, including street lighting, landscaping and intersection upgrades.
North Vancouver – Spirit Trail eastern extension: Seymour to Windridge/Berkley
New on-street cycling facilities, and off-street multi-use pathways, as well as pedestrian improvements and crossing improvements that will connect to the North Shore Spirit Trail linking Horseshoe Bay to Deep Cove.
Squamish (1) – Victoria Street interim active transportation improvements
New protected bike lanes on Victoria Street with pedestrian crossing improvements at intersections.
Squamish (2) – Depot Road active transportation upgrades
New multi-use pathway on the north side of Depot Road with pedestrian crossing improvements at cross streets.
Tzeachten – Chilliwack River Road sidewalks (Phase 3)
Increase connectivity with the installation of approximately 400 metres of sidewalk on the west side of Chilliwack River Road.
White Rock – Buena Vista bike path
Approximately 400 metres of bi-directional bikeway and multi-use paths on Buena Vista Avenue between Johnston Road and Best Avenue.

Vancouver and Gulf Islands

Alert Bay – Willow Road stairway replacement
Replacement of approximately 65 metres of damaged stairs with new concrete.
Capital Regional District – Pender Island – Schooner Way school trail
New multi-use transportation trail connecting Pender Island School, Health Centre, and commercial areas.
Comox – Aspen Road/Bolt Avenue sidewalk improvement and cycle lanes project
Installation of new sidewalk and bike lanes that will provide direct access to a park and elementary school.
Esquimalt – Esquimalt Road active transportation and underground improvements – Phase 1
Protected bike lanes connecting bike facilities on Lampson Street to the City of Victoria bike lanes at Dominion Road. This project includes two new rectangular rapid-flashing beacons and one upgraded beacon pedestrian crossing.
Langford (1) – Latoria active transit Improvements: Phase 1B – school safety improvements and eastern connectivity
Improvements to Latoria Road including additional sidewalks, as well as buffered and protected bike lanes that will provide active transportation routes to a new elementary school.
Langford (2) – Latoria active transit improvements: Phase 1A – western connectivity
Improvements to Latoria Road, including additional sidewalks, as well as buffered and protected bike lanes that will provide active transportation routes to a new elementary school.
Mowachaht/Muchalaht First Nation – MMFN Woss Lake Grease Trail and Malaspina Trail renewal
Trail clearing and pre/post trip amenities for the Grease Trail and Malaspina Trail, including signs, benches, picnic tables and washroom facilities.
Nanaimo (1) – Crosswalk upgrades that improve active transportation routes
Crosswalk upgrades to improve active transportation at seven locations.
Nanaimo (2) – Third Street active transportation improvements
Widening of Third Street to allow for active-transportation improvements, including bike lanes and a sidewalk.
Saanich (1) – Shelbourne Street improvement project, Phase 3
AAA bike lanes, new multi-use pathways and additional pedestrian improvements on Pear Street.
Saanich (2) – Albina, Maddock, Orillia improvements project
Improvements to Albina, Maddock and Orillia Road with approximately 750 metres of new sidewalks, improved pedestrian crossings, traffic calming and widened boulevards, adjacent to Tillicum elementary school.
Sidney – Bowerbank neighbourhood bikeway
AAA neighbourhood bikeway connecting a local park and elementary school, which will improve connection to the Lochside Trail, and will be a bicycle corridor for commuters.
Sooke (2) – Active transportation Throup Road corridor improvements
Construction of new sidewalk, multi-use paths, crosswalks and boulevards through Throup Road Corridor connecting schools, recreation centres and bus routes.
Victoria (1) – Cook Street North multi-modal corridor improvements
Approximately 1.8 km of complete streets that expands the AAA cycling network and provides accessibility and pedestrian improvements. This project connects with Saanich’s AAA bike lanes on Cook Street.
Victoria (2) – Blanshard Street North – multi-modal corridor improvements
Approximately 608 metres of complete street that expands Victoria’s AAA cycling network by upgrading bike lanes to wider protected lanes and a fully protected intersection at Bay Street.
View Royal (1) – Atkins Road sidewalk project
New sidewalk connecting Atkins Road to the Galloping Goose Regional Trail.

Provincewide Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) grant recipients:

Castlegar ATNP
The integration of an ATNP into a transportation master plan. Update of an existing plan.
Granisle ATNP
Granisle ATNP. New plan.
Gold River usage counter
The purchase of a mobile multi-pedestrian/cyclist counter that will be used in multiple places to support upcoming project proposals to support project development.
Lantzville ATNP
A comprehensive update of the Lantzville Trails and Journey ways Strategy (2010) to develop and expand an AAA active transportation network: New plan.
Regional District of Nanaimo (Cedar Village) ATNP
The development of a plan to identify and develop safer and more contemporary active transportation methods and infrastructure that addresses conflict areas and prioritizes safety and comfort for all users: Update of an existing plan.
Snuneymuxw First Nation ATNP
A plan to develop safe, efficient and sustainable active transportation infrastructure, as well as end-of-route culturally reflective benches, shelters and water fountain locations. New plan.
Strathcona Regional District – Cortes Island ATNP
The development of an ATNP and implementation strategy to establish priorities for future investment: New plan.
Strathcona Regional District – Oyster Bay-Buttle Lake ATNP
The development of an ATNP and implementation strategy to establish priorities for future investment. New plan.
Whistler ATNP
A plan for improvement to achieve Whistler’s active-transportation vision, as outlined by the Whistler Active Transportation Strategy (2024). The plan will align with CleanBC, the ATDG, and Universal Design and GBA+ principles. Implementation plan for recent active-transportation strategy.