B.C. Communities to Receive New Cycling and Walking Pathways

People in communities throughout B.C., including the Thompson Okanagan, will soon benefit from better cycling, pedestrian and other active-transportation infrastructure that will safely connect neighbourhoods to parks, schools and town centres.

Thirty-three Indigenous and local governments will receive funding for projects that align with provincial priorities to increase the number of people walking and cycling, as well as improving the safety and health of vulnerable road users, community connectivity, accessibility, tourism and climate change mitigation.

The funding will also help 29 additional Indigenous and local governments develop active-transportation network plans that align with the B.C. Active Transportation Design Guide. Network plans are an eligibility requirement for infrastructure funding through the grant program.

Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program recipients in the Thompson Okanagan:

Chase - $119,100
The Pedestrian Safety Improvements-Chase Street/Thompson Avenue project will include 70 metres of new sidewalk, wheelchair let downs, signage and road markings.
Columbia Shuswap Regional District in partnership with Splatsin te Secwépemc - $500,000
The Shuswap North Okanagan Rail Trail - Sicamous to Mara: Early Access Safety and Asset Protection project will develop the preliminary 19.8-kilometre rail trail corridor to create safe public access for active transportation.
District of Clearwater - $331,353
The Multi-Use Pathway-Safe Connector project will be a 780-metre paved multi-use pathway.
Kamloops - $451,458
The Westsyde Road Multi-Use Path project will construct 430 metres of paved multi-use path along Westsyde Road and extend an existing multi-use path.
Kelowna - $500,000
The Casorso Active Transportation Corridor project delivers a 700-metre protected bike route that includes sections that separate pedestrians and cyclists from high-speed, high-traffic areas and separates bike lanes from sidewalks.
Merritt - $203,976
The Rotary Park Multi-Use Pathway Upgrade and Voght Street Connections is a multi-use pathway for all users at Rotary Park and at Central Park.
Salmon Arm - $500,000
The Ross Street Underpass (Phase 1) will be a new multi-modal underpass of the Canadian Pacific Railway that includes 260 metres of new sidewalk providing a direct connection between the downtown core and the waterfront.
Tk'emlups te Secwépemc Kamloops Indian Reserve #1 - $500,000
The East Shuswap Road Multi-Use Path will be a 300-metres multi-use path along East Shuswap Road providing connectivity to the Chief Louis Centre lands.
Vernon - $500,000
The Silver Star Road Multi-Use Path Phase 1 project will construct 1,250 metres of paved multi-use pathway along Silver Star Road.