On July 28, the Active Transportation Fund was launched by Infrastructure Canada. First announced in March, the national fund will invest $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges and undertake planning studies.
This new fund is part of an eight-year, $14.9-billion public transit investment to support communities as they build vibrant neighbourhoods where people can safely live, work, and play.
Eligible recipients for the Active Transportation Fund are municipal, local, and regional governments, provincial and territorial governments, public sector bodies, not-for-profit organizations and various Indigenous Governing Bodies. More information about the Active Transportation Fund, details on eligibility, and how to apply may be found on the Infrastructure Canada website.
Dr. Judy Farvolden, UTTRI’s Executive Director, remarks:
“This is exactly the kind of good news we need. The pandemic changed our travel behaviour in so many ways, and every day, you see the increased demand for active transportation infrastructure on the streets of Toronto. This investment from the federal government means that we will rebuild in a way that connects people to opportunity and, at the same time, addresses the climate crisis.” – Dr. Judy Farvolden, Executive Director, University of Toronto Transportation Research Institute
News release: Government of Canada announces the country’s first-ever federal strategy and fund dedicated to building active transportation trails and pathways, July 28, 2021, Toronto, Ontario
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