The Comox Valley Regional District (CVRD) Board approved the final Regional Active Transportation Network Plan. The Regional ATNP initiative was undertaken through the Regional Growth Strategy (RGS) service in order to advance Goals 4 (transportation), 7 (public health and safety) and 8 (climate change). The final plan included feedback collected from the public and identified key areas of interest in the region. Seven pedestrian projects, six cycling projects and 11 multi-use projects were identified as priorities in the development of a connected, safe, and accessible network in the Comox Valley.
The project was supported, in part, by grant funding provided by the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI). Completion of a regional ATNP puts the CVRD and the member municipalities in a favourable position to pursue implementation grant funding as well as to coordinate local government funding.
“Seeing this plan come to fruition and have both the community and CVRD board support brings us one step closer to realizing safe, efficient and effective transportation options within the region,” explains CVRD Board Chair Jesse Ketler. “Now more than ever we need to look at our available options and increase both accessibility and connectedness throughout the community in order to reach our climate and community goals.”
CVRD staff will now develop implementation agreements which would include project design, approval processes and detailed costing to fund the projects. Examples of some of the priority projects include:
- Paulsen Road – 600 m connection to Miracle Beach Elementary School with bicycle accessible and walkable shoulder
- Island Highway 19A (Black Creek) – 300 m connecting community and commercial amenities through a buffered pedestrian lane
- Bates Road – 3.8km from Coleman Road to Waveland Road with bicycle accessible and walkable shoulder
- Anderton Road – 1.4 km between Ellenor Road and Ryan Road with bicycle accessible and walkable shoulder
- Idiens Way – 800 m from Anderton to the City of Courtenay boundary with bicycle accessible and walkable shoulder
- Lake Trail Road – 600 m to extend to a planned City of Courtenay facility and connection to Arden Elementary School with roadside separated multi-use path.
- Cumberland Road – 1.2 km between the Village of Cumberland boundary and the City of Courtenay boundary with a painted buffer bicycle lane.
- Island Highway 19A – 6.8km between Union Bay and Buckley Bay with bicycle accessible and walkable shoulder
One key future project identified repeatedly through engagement sessions was the provision of active transportation facilities within the Island Corridor Foundation E&N Corridor (extending from Union Bay to the City of Courtenay’s Rotary Rail Trail.
To learn more about the Active Transportation Plan visit www.comoxvalleyrd.ca/activetransportation
The Comox Valley Regional District is a federation of three electoral areas and three municipalities providing sustainable services for residents and visitors to the area. The members of the regional district work collaboratively on services for the benefit of the diverse urban and rural areas of the Comox Valley.
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Media Contact:
Alana Mullaly, General Manager of Planning and Development Services
250-334-6051