(Stock photo courtesy of Skitterphoto)
The federal government is investing $400 million over five years for new cycling paths.
It is expecting to build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, as well as support for repairs and planning studies.
The move is being touted as a step towards cleaner transportation and having net-zero emissions by 2050.
The new $400-million fund is part of an eight-year, $14.9-billion public transit investment outlined by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Minister of Infrastructure and Communities Catherine McKenna.
Minister McKenna says this investment will have a lot of positive effects on residents and communities.
“Canadians love using safe cycling paths and trails to get around their towns and cities. It’s a great way to stay healthy, enjoy nature, and connect to public transit, and it is good for the environment. This investment will make it easier for more people to get around on foot, bikes, scooters, wheelchairs and e-bikes. This is the first national project of its kind in Canada.”
In concert with this new fund, Minister McKenna and Parliamentary Secretary Fillmore also launched stakeholder engagement for Canada’s first Active Transportation Strategy. The strategy will be informed by input from the public and key stakeholders including provinces, territories, municipalities, Indigenous communities and not-for-profit organizations and businesses and will help the federal government make smarter investment decisions to:
- Support the active transportation networks of the future;
- Promote healthier, walkable communities that are environmentally sustainable and
affordable; and - Support better data collection to ensure measurable outcomes.
