CORNWALL – The city is proposing another $1.2 million in bike lane work in various areas across the city in 2018.
This is contained in a report to city council for consideration on Monday night, as the municipality decides whether to be part of the Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling (OMCC) program.
Signing on would mean up to 80 per cent of the cost would be covered by the province, meaning the city would be on the hook for $259,000 at most.
OMCC is a four year program that is using money from the Ontario cap and trade program.
“Since the City can potentially save 80% of the cost of the proposed projects, it is highly recommended that City Council endorse its participation in this program,” Transportation Engineer Enrique Kamm wrote in a report to council.
Kamm also points out that if the province didn’t provide funding, the municipality is not committed to completing the projects next year.
It’s the latest rollout of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.
The costliest work is adding bike lanes to a couple of sections of Tollgate Road (from Brookdale to McConnell and Vincent Massey Drive to Power Dam), Vincent Massey Drive (between the bike trails at Power Dam and the train tracks) and Cornwall Centre Road (from the Highway 401 underpass to Highway 138).
There are also bike lanes proposed for sections of Brookdale Avenue (from Tollgate to Cornwall Centre Road), Campbell Street, Loyalist Street,Education Road and Boundary Road in the industrial park area.
Based on city survey data, depending on the road, high traffic areas like Vincent Massey and Brookdale could see 70 cyclists a day while places like Loyalist Street and Education Road could see 10-20 per day.
Monday night’s council meeting starts at 7 p.m.