BC government spending $6.5 million on new Lower Mainland bike lanes
The provincial government says it is spending $16.7 million on new active transportation improvements across BC during the COVID-19 pandemic period through March 2021.
All of the projects across the province are slated for completion by early spring, including $6.5 million to the areas in and around the Lower Mainland, largely dedicated towards new cycling infrastructure.
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“From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, people have naturally been more interested in using active transportation to safely move around and stay connected to their community,” said Rob Fleming, BC Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure in a statement.
“With this funding as part of our government’s economic recovery plan, we were able to create new jobs and get shovels in the ground quickly to build infrastructure that helps our communities build back stronger.”
The most significant projects within Metro Vancouver include improvements to the West 16th Avenue cycle path within the UBC campus, improvements to the multi-use pathway on both ends of the Lions Gate Bridge, new multi-use pathway under the Highway 1 Lynn Valley Road overpass connecting with the existing 21st Street and Morgan Road bike lanes, and a new bike lane on the Highway 1 eastbound ramp through Capilano Road.
The outlined projects also include a multi-use pathway between United Bouleard and Argue Street in Coquitlam.
Here is the full list of provincially-funded active transportation improvements in and around the Lower Mainland:
- Coquitlam – design a multi-use pathway between United Boulevard and Argue Street
- Delta – improvements to approximately 500 metres of a multi-use path connecting to Alex Fraser Bridge
- Gibsons – new cycle path connection to the existing multi-use path parallel to Highway 101
- Gibsons – safety improvement for pedestrian and cyclists by increasing shoulder width and adding cyclist markings
- New Westminster – sidewalk improvements on Queensborough bridge
- North Vancouver – design of a new multi-use pathway under the Highway 1 Lynn Valley Road overpass that connects with the existing City of North Vancouver bike lanes at 21st Street (south end) and Morgan Road (north end)
- North Vancouver – design of both a cycling lane on the Highway 1 east bound ramp through Capilano Road and a multi-use pathway replacing the existing northbound sidewalk
- South Surrey – cycling path improvements from Pacific Crossing to 8th Avenue
- Tsawwassen – design of a 350-metre multi-use pathway connection between Great Blue Heron Way and the existing 27B Avenue multi-use pathway
- University of British Columbia – design for a new 350-metre multi-use path
- University of British Columbia – improvements for the West 16th Avenue University of British Columbia cycle path
- Vancouver – improvements to the Oak Street Bridge deck panels for improved flow of cyclists and pedestrian access
- West Vancouver – improvement to multi-use pathway, surfacing on the structure and new cyclist signage plus design improvements to the transition and access pathways on either end of the Lions Gate Bridge
- Coquihalla Canyon – trail restoration for improved safety for hikers and bikers
- Various locations throughout Metro Vancouver such as Highway 7 at Jim Robson Way, Highway 91 and Highway 99 at Westminster Highway will benefit from improvements to cycling paths, fog lines, barriers and reflectors
The provincial government has a long-term strategy to get more people out of their cars and into public transit, walking, and cycling. The goal is to double the percentage of trips taken on these three transportation modes by 2030.
Currently, within Metro Vancouver, cycling has a mode share of just 2%.
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