Seven Vancouver Island communities get $2.7 million from BikeBC

Seven Vancouver Island communities will get almost $2.7 million in BikeBC funding this year to go towards expanding and building bike lanes and trails.

Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone made the announcement on Wednesday morning and said, “local governments in every region of Vancouver Island want to provide residents and visitors more opportunities to cycle for commuting, recreation and tourism and our BikeBC program helps them do that.”

Seven projects on Vancouver Island will get the following funding:

• Capital Regional District: E&N Rail Trail, Maplebank Road to Hallowell Road – $1 million
• Langford: Dunford Avenue separated bike lanes – $203,050
• Saanich: Lansdowne bike lanes – $450,000
• Victoria: Pandora two-way protected bicycle facility – $890,492
• Nanaimo: Buttertubs Drive multi-use path – $64,025
• Port Alberni: Port Alberni bike route improvements – $50,875
• Alberni-Clayoquot Regional District: Cherry Creek cycling and walking trail – $38,549

BikeBC, which is B.C.’s cost-sharing program that helps communities build cycling projects, is part of B.C. on the Move, the government’s 10-year transportation plan. The ministry committed $18 million over three years to cost-share with municipalities on projects like bike trails, pedestrian bridges, multi-use paths and shoulder bikeways.

“This funding support through the BikeBC program makes a big difference to communities planning their cycling projects,” said MLA for Comox Valley Don McRae in a statement.

“During the B.C. on the Move consultations last year, increased cycling infrastructure was a popular topic, so it’s great to see the tangible results of this significant funding commitment.”

Through B.C. on the Move, the Ministry of Transportation will invest almost $2.7 billion over the next three years to improve the province’s transportation network.