After an injection of federal funding, Mission could become more walkable.
On Tuesday (Jan. 10), Vancouver-South MP and Minister of International Development Harjit S. Sajjan announced a federal investment of $99,907 to support two active transportation projects in the Fraser Valley.
The City of Mission will get funding to finish the planning and design of a vital chunk of the Experience the Fraser (ETF) trail from Duncan/Gill Avenue to Dyke Road near the Fraser River.
“The vision of the Experience the Fraser trail started here in Mission, largely thanks to advocacy by then MLA Randy Hawes,” said said Mission mayor Paul Horn in a statement. “This latest installment in funding will help us create a pedestrian connection between Silverdale and our waterfront, something that we have dreamed of doing for more than a dozen years.”
READ MORE: Mission’s Seventh Avenue Greenway project receives almost $1.5 million in federal funding
This project is expected to bring Mission one step closer to completing the trail. The ETF trail will consist of approximately 500 km of pathways, weaving together communities and points of interest in the Fraser Valley with a safe active transportation network.
Sajjan, also the minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada, says the funding supports Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy by supporting active transportation planning.
“Residents of the Fraser Valley walk, bike, drive or use public transportation to get to their destinations and need to get there in a timely and safe way,” Sajjan said. “Our Government is funding these active transportation projects to benefit communities, promote healthier lifestyles and reduce greenhouse gas emissions, all while supporting long-term, sustainable and inclusive economic growth.”
Federal funding for the City of Mission’s Seventh Avenue Greenway project also announced in December to support Canada’s active transportation goals.
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dillon.white@missioncityrecord.com
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