NEW WESTMINSTER – New Democrat MLAs Jennifer Whiteside and Aman Singh say people in New Westminster will soon benefit from better active transportation infrastructure that will safely connect neighbourhoods to parks, schools, and town centres.

“People need more opportunities to walk, wheel, and cycle to work and school safely,” said Jennifer Whiteside, MLA for New Westminster. “Investing in the Agnes Greenway will not only support active commuting, but also give people more ways to visit and support our downtown businesses.”

New Westminster is receiving $500,000 in cost-shared funding to build the Agnes Greenway, a 1.2km multi-modal transportation corridor that will allow people to safely walk, wheel, and cycle along Agnes Street. The project will feature a protected two-way bike lane, improved sidewalks, as well as trees and street furniture.

“In order to meet our goals for a cleaner, greener province, we need to make active transportation a safe and easy choice for more people to make,” said Aman Singh, MLA for Richmond-Queensborough. “Projects like the Agnes Greenway that encourage walking and cycling will make our community more resilient to the challenges of climate change.”

The community is one of 33 Indigenous and local governments across the province receiving funding for shovel-ready projects that will increase the number of people walking and cycling as well as improve the safety of vulnerable road users. The projects are aligned with provincial priorities to enhance community connectivity, accessibility, tourism, and climate change mitigation.

Making active transportation more accessible for people is central to Move. Commute. Connect., B.C.’s comprehensive strategy to make local transportation safer, greener, and more accessible for all British Columbians. $36 million is committed to this program over the next three years, with nearly $12.7 million in Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants being awarded in 2021.

Learn More: https://news.gov.bc.ca/25372