Ottawa Plans An Additional $12.1 Million For Cycling Infrastructure

The City of Ottawa’s draft budget, which was unveiled on October 26, includes plans to spend $24 million on cycling infrastructure over the next three years. The cycling infrastructure is part of the new initiative called Ottawa on the move, a $340-million program announced by Mayor Jim Watson

Mayor Jim Watson announced a new initiative called “Ottawa on the Move”: a $340-million program to tackle resurfacing, road reconstruction, sidewalk improvements, cycling infrastructure and rehabilitation of aging structures.

Over 2012-2014, more than 200km of paved roads will be resurfaced, and of those more than 70 km will see added bike lanes and paved shoulders to improve active transportation.

The program also addresses gaps in the cycling network to improve interconnections and safety: Off road pathways near the Aviation Museum, through Hampton Park, along the O-Train corridor from Carling to the Ottawa River, and extending the Sawmill Creek path from Walkley to Brookfield will be completed.

Also planned over the next three years is an East West Bikeway to provide safer and more comfortable commutes for those looking for alternatives to traveling by car or transit.
In total, the draft Budget 2012 provides an additional $12.1 million over three years for cycling infrastructure. This funding is on top of the $8 million over four years provided in Budget 2011 and does not include an additional estimated $6 million in new bike lanes and paved shoulders that will be done through Ottawa on the Moves’ road renewal program.