Residents of a neighbourhood in Rossland are going to have a safer and easier way to walk or bike downtown.
The city has received a $69,000 grant to turn a grassed-over back lane just below Columbia Avenue into a multi-use pathway.
The lane isn’t much now — just a rough trail below Columbia Avenue, between the Miners’ Hall and Nevada Street, with steep access points to the larger streets. But it was one of 24 small urban paths that councillor Stewart Spooner identified years ago as having potential to develop into a proper commuter path.
“For people coming from that little neighbourhood down there, currently they’re walking down the street and along lower Columbia where there isn’t a sidewalk,” he says. “So the goal is to make a more pedestrian-friendly community, and there’s an alley that goes in the right direction.
“Small upgrades to that alley would make it more tempting for people to use.”
Spooner pointed out there are many such short alleys around town that are opportunities to develop into commuter corridors.
“It’s about putting a little money aside every year, and finding those places where we can improve the pedestrian experience around the town,” he says.
The upgrading of this path was identified as a priority by city staff in Rossland’s Active Transportation Plan. The plan says that the path:
• will provide a more direct, mildly graded and safe access to the downtown business district, and so is expected to be well-used.
• offers an off-road link for pedestrians and cyclists between lower Rossland neighbourhoods and downtown, schools, pool, library, arena therefore increasing physical activity.
• links the downtown to Centennial ballpark/soccer fields which are heavily used in the summer. This will provide a safe route for families to access the park.
• leads to the City of Rossland campground and recently improved Centennial wetlands, thus offering a safe off-road link from these important tourism amenities to the city’s downtown.
Council voted to move on the project in February, but tenders are still be let on the project. It’s not known when work will begin on upgrading the path.
The proposal is being paid for through a BikeBC grant of $69,805, with the city contributing a quarter of the cost of the project.
BikeBC grants provide communities with financial support to create new cycling infrastructure and make improvements to existing transportation networks — making local transportation safer, greener and more accessible.
These projects promote cycling to work, school and errands, which helps reduce traffic congestion while contributing to a cleaner, healthier environment. These projects have the potential to generate tourism-related benefits based on their proximity to amenities and points of interest.
“These investments will lead us to a cleaner environment and provide affordable travel choices for people commuting to the places they work, learn, play and socialize,” said Kootenay West MLA Katrine Conroy. “Supporting the growth of our active transportation networks also benefits the booming tourism industry that helps support many local businesses in our region.”
As part of CleanBC, the Province’s plan to set B.C. on a path to a stronger, more sustainable future, a new strategy is being developed that builds on BikeBC.