On the tail(pipe) of BIM’s 20-year transportation plan being adopted, the province of B.C. announced June 13, that BIM would be receiving $135,666 for phase one of a cross-island multi-use trail.
The funding, which is part of the BikeBC program, will allow the municipality to do the technical work required to see exactly where the trail will go.
The trail was one of the high priority items on the new municipal plan.
“This is a really great kick start,” says councillor Melanie Mason, the transportation plan’s proponent to council. “Often these plans stay plans, but we’re actually going to get going.”
TransLink has already agreed to 50 per cent cost-sharing for phase one and the BikeBC funding will cover 75 per cent of the remaining costs.
Mason says this is the first time BIM has applied for this kind of funding, as funding at this level usually requires demonstrated community engagement. She says the transportation plan allowed BIM to show the province this engagement.
According to the transportation plan, the multi-use trail is projected to have five stages.
Transportation committee vice-chair Rob Wynen says that construction of the trail is expected to begin in 2019.
