By Sebastian Kanally, Times Chronicle

Oliver is seeking more funding to ensure specific policies support and advance active transportation in the town.
The Union of BC Municipalities (UBCM) offers a $20,000 grant for Active Transportation Planning for local governments.

This funding seeks to support advancing these active transportation-related policies in formal documents such as the Official Community Plan (OCP). This would allow the town to understand what changes are necessary to better support active transportation in the community.

In the town’s transportation plan, there are numerous proposed active transportation improvement projects identified, a few of them are as follows:

  • Continuing to complete sidewalks throughout the town, including high priority areas such as School Ave., Okanagan St. rehabilitation, and Fairview Rd.;
  • The building of the multi-use path along the Ditch Canal South of Fairview Rd.;
  • Redeveloping Station St. and Station St. Plaza;
  • Developing cycle routes and signage;
  • Main St. crosswalk improvements;
  • Establish and enforce accessibility standards for new sidewalks.

The report notes that support for active transportation is coming from multiple directions.

Improving the active transportation infrastructure of Oliver is supported by council’s current strategic plan, which specifically outlines increasing the walkability of the community. The town’s active transportation plan also outlines a commitment to support active transportation.

The town’s draft of its climate action plan is also an emerging theme to support more active transportation to contribute towards decreasing emissions. The Oliver Age Friendly Assessment and Action Plan has also outlined the need for continued investment in mobility infrastructure throughout the community.

If the application is successful, first the town would review the current active transportation elements already contained in the OCP. Then judgements could be made about how the OCP needs to be updated to support existing communities. The report notes this would include any changes being considered to the housing policy review.