Gibsons is one of 18 communities in line for a BikeBC grant.
The province announced June 13 that the town will get $331,657 for the multi-use path and bike lane being constructed on Gibsons Way.
In a release announcing the $6.11 million in grants, Transportation Minister Claire Trevena said, “B.C. is a leader in North America when it comes to cycling infrastructure... I’m excited this year’s grant recipients represent diversity in the kinds of projects being built and the size of participating communities – both urban and rural.”
The grants follow the province’s decision to make BikeBC eligibility criteria more flexible to better support rural communities.
Dave Newman, the Town’s director of infrastructure services, told councillors at a June 19 committee meeting that the grant will also free up money to do more work on Gibsons Way. The original project was budgeted at $442,000, with some of it covered by a long-term loan.
Newman said, with council’s approval, his department could put the newly freed-up money toward completing a bike lane on the eastbound (downhill) side of Gibsons Way, between North Road and North Fletcher, a project that would include moving utility poles.
Newman also said the long-term borrowing bylaw for the Gibsons Way project may restrict how the money freed up by the grant can be used. “We may be restricted by the terms of the AAP [Alternate Approval Process], the fact that we borrowed that money for specific projects… There’s a possibility we may not be able to spend that money any place but Gibsons Way,” he said.
A report outlining possible options will come forward in July, and Mayor Wayne Rowe said because the work on Gibsons Way has already seen one cost overrun, the report should include the option of using the money to pay down the loan faster.
