Grant for Active Transportation Plans on Cortes and Area D

Roy L Hales/Cortes Currents - The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is applying for a grant to develop plans for walking, cycling and rolling (skateboard, roller skates etc) infrastructure on Cortes Island and in Area D.  The Ministry of Transportation refers to these as active means of transportation and has made Active Transportation Network Planning Grants of up to $50,000 available to communities with populations under 25,000.  If their applications are successful, the SRD plans to match the funding with money obtained through the Community Works Fund (better known as the Gas Tax).  Mayor Michael Lott of Gold River read out the motion at the SRD Board meeting of Wednesday, September 15, 2024: “I'd  also like to move that an application be submitted to the 2024/25 Active Transportation Network Planning program for grant funding to develop an Active Transportation Network Plan for Electoral Area B; and that the Regional District commit to overall management of the grant if the application is successful; and that, if the application is successful, 50% of the project funding be approved from the Electoral Area B Community Works Fund to a maximum of $50,000.”  He also read the motion for Area D, which was virtually identical. Both motions passed with no opposing votes. Mark Vonesch, the Regional Director of Cortes Island (Area B), responded, “I  just want to thank staff for bringing this forward. Active transportation is definitely an issue on Cortes. People are wanting some movement on that. So I welcome this grant application and to be able to support it through the Gas Tax funding as well.”  John Rice, Regional Director of Area D said, “I'm wondering if we could tie this into the traffic study that Area D has been doing because this is also quite important to that traffic study.”   CAO David Leitch asked, “Do you have line of sight that it's going to be done by 2025?”  Director Rice: “My understanding is I think we'll be getting an update on it in November.” Campbell River Director Doug Chapman wanted to know, “How does that dovetail into the transportation study the Regional District is currently undertaking.” CAO Leitch: “This is an active transportation. This is different from the regional transportation that we're looking for because active transportation is different forms of transportation like, cycling lanes, walkways and pathways, and as opposed to the regional transportation that we're looking at, which is likely buses.” Director Rice: “When is this funding going to be available if successful?  A staff member responded, “They announce the awards in April of 2025.”