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Ministry of Transportation

Ontario Helping Orillia, Midland And Collingwood Expand Cycling And

Improve Safety

Province Investing $475,000 In Local Cycling Infrastructure

NEWS / March 29, 2016

Ontario is providing $475,000 to the City of Orillia and to the Towns of Midland and Collingwood over the next two years to help build new cycling infrastructure through the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program.

The City of Orillia will receive $325,000 to build a 1 kilometre off-road pathway that will allow cyclists and pedestrians to safely travel across Highway 11 and alongside a busy road with multiple intersections. This new pathway will also help cyclists travel to work, school and recreation destinations in the west end of the city.

The Town of Midland will receive $90,000 to create a new 2.43 kilometre bike loop around the downtown area that will include separated bicycle lanes with physical barriers, raised cycle tracks and signed bike routes on shared roadways. The new loop will create cycling routes within the downtown commercial area that connect to existing trails and to destinations outside downtown.

The Town of Collingwood will receive $60,000 to install 0.7 kilometres of a cycling and walking path to help cyclists travel to Millennium Park and make this recreation and tourism destination more accessible for cyclist of all ages.

Last year, Ontario launched the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program, a $10 million funding program to help municipalities across the province build new, and improve existing, cycling infrastructure. Ontario is providing 50 per cent of eligible project costs, to a maximum of $325,000. Eligible projects for funding include the installation or improvement of on-road cycling lanes, off-road cycling and walking paths, cycling-specific traffic signals and signs, active transportation bridges and bike racks.

The Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program is helping implement #CycleON: Ontario’s Cycling Strategy, the government’s 20-year vision to encourage the growth of cycling and improve safety for cyclists across the province.

Investing in cycling infrastructure is part of the government’s economic plan to build Ontario up and deliver on its number-one priority to grow the economy and create jobs. The four-part plan includes investing in talent and skills, including helping more people get and create the jobs of the future by expanding access to high-quality college and university education. The plan is making the largest investment in public infrastructure in Ontario’s history and investing in a low-carbon economy driven by innovative, high-growth, export-oriented businesses. The plan is also helping working Ontarians achieve a more secure retirement.

QUOTES

“Building cycling infrastructure is important in helping us make Ontario a great place to ride a bike. Working together with our partners, the cycling community and local municipalities like Orillia, Midland and Collingwood, I know we will succeed in making Ontario a cycling leader in North America.”

— Steven Del Duca, Minister of Transportation

“This is great news for Simcoe County, building upon the infrastructure already in place in towns and cities such as Barrie and Orillia. Investing in our local cycling infrastructure will help keep our cyclists safe and encourage more people to ride a bike. Cycling is a healthy, sustainable way to get around.”

— Ann Hoggarth, MPP for Barrie

“Orillia Council is thrilled Minister Del Duca and the MTO deemed this key trail connection worthy of their full funding complement through the OMCIP. The City of Orillia has advocated for quite some time the merits of a new trail connection over Highway 11 to promote active transportation in Orillia, enhance the City’s trail system, and provide safe passage for cyclists and pedestrians to and from West Orillia.”

— Steve Clarke, Mayor of Orillia

“Thanks to the Ministry of Transportation grant, we are able to take a significant step in making Midland an “active transportation” community. These bike lanes will provide a healthy alternative for bringing people into our vibrant downtown.”

— Gord McKay, Mayor of Midland

“As a popular cycling destination, the Town of Collingwood has invested heavily in infrastructure to enable access to popular community locations. We greatly appreciate the funding from the Ministry of Transportation and the OMCIP, which will allow us to construct a safe route for cyclists to access a signature feature of our community, Millennium Park, with views and access to our waterfront and its heritage features. Our Waterfront Master Plan, currently in early development, has indicated the harbour spit, Heritage Drive, and Millennium Park as key assets in our waterfront design. We're very grateful for the opportunity to enhance these assets and make them more accessible to cyclists.”

— Sandra Cooper, Mayor of Collingwood

QUICK FACTS

§  Municipalities awarded funding under the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program will begin receiving funds in April 2016.

§  Projects selected for funding most effectively aligned with the program objectives: improving connections between local cycling networks, promoting safety, enabling recreation and tourism, encouraging innovation, research and data collection, supporting partnerships and improving awareness of cycling as a viable transportation mode.

§  Almost three million Ontarians hop on their bikes at least once a week during the spring, summer and fall and many cycle year-round.

LEARN MORE

CycleON: Ontario's Cycling Strategy

CycleON Action Plan 1.0

Bicycle Safety

Lyndsay Miller, Minister’s Office,
Bob Nichols, Communications Branch, 416-327-1158 / ontario.ca/transportation-news
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