The federal government has given the City of Victoria a $750,000 investment for the Government Street bike lanes.
The bike lanes between Gorge Road and Pandora Avenue are one of the latest in the city’s All Ages and Abilities (AAA) cycling corridors.
The project, which the city says is in the process of getting the finishing touches, is to help revitalize the Arts and Innovation District.
“This initiative demonstrates the Government of Canada’s commitment to supporting economic development in communities across British Columbia,” said Harjit Sajjan, minister of international development and minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada. “We have helped put small-and medium-sized businesses on the road to recovery. Now it’s time to invest in the shared public spaces that will safely bring people together and help communities grow and thrive well into the future.”
The funds come from the Canada Community Revitalization Fund which is a two-year, $500 million national infrastructure program to fund projects to revitalize downtown areas, reinvent outdoor spaces, create green infrastructure, and increase accessibility in community spaces.
In addition to the bike lanes, the funding will go towards pedestrian crossings, traffic signals, public seating, art, and landscaping along Government Street from Pandora Avenue to Gorge Road.
“We so appreciate the federal government’s investment, through PacifiCan, in the City’s Arts and Innovation District,” said Lisa Helps, mayor of Victoria. “This project has transformed Government Street, delivered significant road safety, asset renewal and placemaking improvements all of which strengthen our economy and increase our resiliency as a capital city.”
In addition to the Government Street bike lanes, the City of Victoria says there are six other bike corridors nearing completion.
The almost-complete projects are the traffic-calmed neighbourhood bikeways on Kings Road, Haultain Street and Richardson Street, and three connector routes into the Oaklands, Fernwood and North Park neighbourhoods.
“Taking a complete street approach to improving road safety benefits our entire community,” said Helps. “Whether it is a new traffic signal to help people cross a busy intersection, new trees to grow our urban forest, or adding speed humps to encourage slower shared streets, these investments are another step towards achieving our goals of increasing livability and equity and reducing traffic fatalities and injuries.”
Laura Brougham
