[Smevo]

From Wednesday, May 30, 2007

Council approves funding for active transportation plan

Greener spaces, healthier population among benefits

Section: Cape Breton

By Chris Hayes, Cape Breton Post
Council has given the green light to an active transportation plan for the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.

Cyclist Andre Gallant says a $75,000 contribution approved by council last week will pay off in a lot of ways.

"Greener spaces, cleaner air, reduced motor vehicle traffic, which will lead to reduced road maintenance costs, a healthier population (and) friendlier neighbourhoods," he said.

Gallant, vice-president of the cycling group Velo Cape Breton and a member of the municipality's active transportation committee, said the plan will also mean more recreational opportunities and make the area a nicer place to live.

"We want to attract people," he said. "We want to keep people. We are losing population."

The provincial government is also kicking in $15,000 and other agencies have been asked to contribute, he said. Velo Cape Breton is contributing $250.

Malcolm Gillis, of the municipality's planning department, hopes to issue a request for proposals for the plan this summer, looking for a consultant to hold a series of wide-ranging public sessions and to write the plan.

"This is a daunting task and nobody here at the CBRM has either the time or the expertise to do a bang-up job on this," he said.

Gillis noted the plan has to be a regional strategy taking in a number of communities unlike active transportation plans for areas like Moncton.

Council will be asked to adopt the plan, he said.

Gallant congratulated council for finding the $75,000 contribution in what was a tough budget year.

"It just demonstrates great leadership that they are looking long-term because the benefits are going to take years to accrue," he said.

"It is going to take time to do the plan and it is going to take multiple years to implement the plan fully.

"Some of the stuff is many years off."

The plan in a general way will identify active transportation (walking, running, cycling, skateboarding) opportunities and needs and a way of connecting neighbourhoods for the activities. Gallant suggested there could be some kind of park or public area on the former Sydney steel plant site eventually.

"How do we make that accessible to people from Whitney Pier without having to drive a car there?" he asked. "How do we make it accessible to the people from downtown Sydney? How do we connect that to the Green Link plan that is going on for Rotary Park?"

The plan could find its way into municipal bylaws, zoning permits and public works budgets with recommendations, for example, about improving sidewalks, he said.