Province gives Hamilton $295K for new Bay Street cycling route

The province has given the city of Hamilton $295,000 for a new 2.3-kilometre cycling route on Bay Street.

But city council still hasto agree to fork over the other half of the $600,000 project.

On Tuesday, Transportation Minister Steven Del Ducapledged $295,000 to fund the creation of the new route. It will run from near the base of the Escarpment, through downtownandconnectto the waterfront with painted bike lanes, physically separated bike lanes and a bike path alongside the road.

The provincial money will come through the Ontario Municipal Cycling Infrastructure Program.

But city councillors will have to agree to pay for the other half, likely in the capital budget due early next year, said Martin White, acting director of energy, fleet and traffic, told CBC Hamilton. If it doesn't, the $295,000 stays with the project.

"It's council's prerogative," White said ofwhether council agrees to payfor the project.

Del Duca made the funding announcement at Hammer City Cycle bike shop on Upper James Street.

MPP Ted McMeekinand Mayor FredEisenbergerwere also present, commentingon how this plan will impact the city.

"Cycling is very important to the City of Hamilton," said the mayor. "We've moved from 70 km in 2007 to about180 km now, in terms of cycle track in various parts of our city. And we need to do more."

Eisenberger said the application for this cycling route along Bay Street was made some time ago. "It will be a network connecting downtown to Bay and then to the GO Transit locations. That's the proposed location and that's likely where it will be."

Cycling for recreationaland transportational uses

In a report to city councillors, White said the project will be two-way bike lanes along the west curb of Bay Street between Cannon Street and Aberdeen Avenue, with some portions similar to the Cannon cycle track.

North of Cannon, the route willbe conventional bike lanes along both sides of Bay Street. The route will endat the existing bike lanes on the Bay Street bridge beside thenew West Harbour GO station.

The infrastructure program is connected led bythe province's CycleONstrategy, a 20-yearvision to grow cycling networks across the province.

MPP McMeekin said Hamilton has some of the oldest and most active cycling clubs in the province, and a proud cycling heritage.

The SoBi program, the Hamilton bike share, isnow one year old, he said. Ithas more than 10,000 people signed up and roughly 8,000 active users.