Saanich hopes that a federal tax on four-wheeled drivers will benefit two-wheeled riders.
Council Monday approved an application for federal gas tax money to help pay for transportation improvements on Shelbourne Street as part of the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan (SVAP).
Echoing a general sentiment, Coun. Colin Plant said he supports the application as it could see the federal government help fund the project.
Monday’s vote came after council approved the Shelbourne Valley Action Plan, an ambitious proposal to redesign and redevelop a four-kilometre stretch of Shelbourne Street that begins 500 metres of Feltham Road and concludes 500 m south of North Dairy Road.
Plans call for increased residential density clustered around four major intersections along Shelbourne Street — a busy but car-centric urban corridor — and changes to the local transportation infrastructure the stated goal of helping cyclists an pedestrians.
Council earlier approved plans that pump $12.5 million into bike lanes and other measures that promise to promote non-motorized forms of transportation.
Saanich submitted its application to the Federal Gas Tax Strategic Priorities Fund (SPF). It covers up to 100 per cent of eligible projects “that are large in scale, regional in impact or innovative and support the Gas Tax Fund national objectives of productivity and economic growth, a clean environment, and strong cities and communities,” according to a memo to Saanich council from Harley Machielse, director of engineering.
“The SVAP is an ideal project for the funding as it meets the gas tax national objectives and aligns with the criteria outlined within the SPF program guidelines,” he said.
If successful, Saanich would spend the money on the first phase of the proposed short term mobility improvement. It calls for new cycling facilities, pedestrian safety improvements, and new underground infrastructure for the area along Shelbourne Street between Torquay Drive and McKenzie Avenue and the UVic Bike Connector, said Machielse.
Current plans peg the cost of these improvements at $7.9 million and a successful application could allow Saanich to accelerate future phases of the SVAP project, as well as complete other active transportation and underground capital projects at the same time, said Machielse.
Machielse said he anticipated that a minimum of $180 million would be available to eligible local governments, making it the largest single intake for the federal gas tax fund in British Columbia.
Two or three months may pass until Saanich receives a response, said Machielse, who told council that the project itself would not begin until 2018 at the earliest.
Plenty of design work remains, he said.