Today, Terry Beech, Parliamentary Secretary to the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Member of Parliament for Burnaby North-Seymour; His Worship Mike Hurley, Mayor of the City of Burnaby; and His Worship Patrick Johnstone, Mayor of the City of New Westminster, announced $550,000 in federal and municipal funding for three active transportation projects on the eastern side of the Burrard Peninsula. This investment will support the planning and design of active transportation infrastructure to provide convenient, healthier, and greener modes of travel.
The City of Burnaby will use part of this funding to update its street and traffic bylaw. The update will focus on revising regulations to encourage sustainable transportation options. This funding will also enable the City to undertake an active school travel planning study that aligns with regional planning initiatives like TransLink's regional Youth Travel Strategy. This planning effort will complement the City's evaluation of existing school travel routes to identify potential safety improvements and will develop strategies that support students walking and cycling to school.
With this fund, the City of New Westminster will plan a city-wide active transportation network that responds to advances in accessibility and considers the significant mobility changes that have resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic. Funding will enable the design of a safe, convenient All Ages and Abilities (AAA) active transportation network that will connect neighbourhoods, business districts, schools, community facilities, and interregional routes. The plan will also include an ambitious implementation timeline that aims to build out the network within the next five years.
By investing in infrastructure, the Government of Canada is growing our country's economy, increasing the resiliency of our communities, and improving the lives of Canadians.
