An expanded Active Transportation Grant Program is accepting proposals to build safer, more accessible and convenient active transportation infrastructure.
“British Columbians shared their strong desire to live in communities where active transportation is a safe and efficient option,” said Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “This grant program is designed to meet the needs of rural and urban communities, so people of all ages and abilities can benefit from better connections between neighbourhoods, schools, work offices, transit stations and town centres.”
Municipalities, Indigenous governments and regional districts are invited to submit funding proposals to the cost-shared Active Transportation Grant Program, which replaces the former BikeBC program focused only on cycling infrastructure projects. The revised program is expanded to support all types of active transportation infrastructure, such as pedestrian safety improvements to sidewalks, improved lighting along pathways and end-of-trip facilities.
The grant program is designed to increase support to Indigenous communities by providing up to 80% in cost-shared funding for projects that are led by Indigenous communities or are a partnership between Indigenous and local governments.
“We are excited to see more people choose active transportation as their first choice,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver-West End. “This funding program will make walking, cycling, rolling and skateboarding to your destination safer and more convenient. By generating more interest in active transportation and by strengthening our pathways, we are making our communities more liveable and life more affordable.”
The Active Transportation Grant Program supports goals set out in the Province’s CleanBC plan, as well as Move. Commute. Connect. — B.C.’s strategy for cleaner, more active transportation. New investments in active transportation will make getting around safer and more convenient, while helping to protect the environment.
“Shifting our ways of getting around not only helps address our CleanBC climate change goals, it also makes for better, more liveable communities and supports healthful activity for all of us,” said George Heyman, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Strategy. “Investments made through this grant program will encourage more people to commute by foot, bike or any other active transportation mode, helping reduce traffic congestion and contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment.”
To support communities in their active transportation infrastructure planning, the Province has introduced a new Active Transportation Design Guide. This guide is available for free download to local governments.
CleanBC was developed in collaboration with the BC Green Party caucus and supports the commitment in the Confidence and Supply Agreement to implement climate action to meet B.C.’s emission targets.
