Hundreds of Pedestrian and Cycling Routes Planned for Oakville

Published August 15, 2017 at 12:08 am

p>Town council has approved the Active Transportation Master Plan Update – with 706 kms of planned routes – meaning it will be easier to get around Oakville on bike or foot.

Town council has approved the Active Transportation Master Plan Update – with 706 kms of planned routes – meaning it will be easier to get around Oakville on bike or foot.

“This update builds on the success of the many cycling and walking projects completed within the last eight years and will help us set our priorities for the future,” said Mayor Rob Burton.

“It’s one more way we’re making a more livable Oakville.”

Final public review is open until August 25.

The 2017 ATMP Update will be used to guide new infrastructure over the next 20-plus years.

It identifies 706 kms of planned active transportation routes including sidewalks, paved shoulders, multi-use trails, signed bike routes, buffered cycle lanes, and major off-road trails and pathways.

The ATMP was introduced in 2009 and recommends an extensive network of facilities composed of on-road and off-road paths designed to respond to the needs of a range of active transportation users, ages and skill levels.

Since then, a total of 193 kms of bike lanes, pathways and signed bike routes have been implemented, plus 110 bike racks across town.

Currently, Oakville’s 104.42 kms of bike paths and lanes per 100,000 residents is among the highest of cities worldwide, according to the World Council on City Data.

The 2017 ATMP Update was developed following extensive public and stakeholder consultation, and aims to expand and improve active transportation in Oakville to ensure a connected network of facilities that are safe, convenient, comfortable, and accessible.

The plan also provides for continued promotional and educational programs to encourage cycling and walking year-round.

Funding for the active transportation program comes from several sources including provincial and federal governments, Halton Region and the town’s capital budgets for new and existing facilities.

Earlier this year, through the Canada 150 Community Infrastructure Program, the federal government supported the expansion of the multi-use accessible Crosstown Trail.

Residents can view the plan online and submit feedback via e-mail at [email protected]

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