Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver West-End, announced provincial funding for a new multi-use path on behalf of Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure at Goodman Park on Tuesday. Dale Boyd/Osoyoos Times
A multi-use pathway linking Lakeshore Drive and Cottonwood Drive is set to be completed by next spring.
The award of grant funding came amidst a flurry of announcements from the provincial government over the past few days while the NDP holds caucus meetings in town.
The 400-meter pathway will connecting the existing paths, creating a continuous 10-kilometre route, with the help of $68,608 in provincial grant funding through the BikeBC program.
“One of the key things I’ve heard from communities, from walkers, cyclists, drivers, whatever, is they want their pathways to connect,” said Spencer Chandra Herbert, MLA for Vancouver West-End, on behalf of Claire Trevena, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure.
“By being able to invest what, really, is not a lot of money, you can make a huge difference to connect this side of the water to that side of the water,” Chandra Herbert said, speaking at Goodman Park where the announcement was made Tuesday.
Pathways which encourage cycling, walking and other forms of non-vehicle transportation is an important effort to fight the effects of climate change, Chandra Herbert said.
“Wether it be wildfires, massive flooding, we can see the impact all around us. So if we want to fight climate change we need to give people more choices and active transportation is one of the ways people can reduce their climate impact and make that difference,” Chandra Herbert said.
The total cost of the project is $392,000 with cost sharing through BikeBC and the province’s Resort Municipalities Initiative, as well as local taxes.
The project goes to tender in the next few weeks with ground work starting this fall and an expected completion date of April 2020.
“The highway is used extensively by residents and visitors to make the journey from downtown to Lakeshore, and we’re looking to provide a positive active-living experience,” said Town of Osoyoos CAO Barry Romenko
