Waterfront Trail In Whitby Getting $6.5 M For New Boardwalk, Seating, Viewing Areas
WHITBY, On: Whitby’s waterfront trail is getting a $6.5 million makeover, as announced by MP Ryan Turnbull and Mayor Elizabeth Roy this week.
The Waterfront Trail in Whitby is part of the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail, a 3,600-kilometer active transportation route connecting municipalities and First Nations’ communities along the Great Lakes. The redevelopment includes widening of over 600 metres of the existing asphalt trail as well as the replacement of over 150 metres of boardwalk and 80 meters of the pedestrian bridge. Improvements will also include regularly placed seating, rest and viewing areas, and wayfinding and interpretive signage.
By widening the pathway and making improvements, the waterfront will accommodate locals and visitors of all ages and abilities safely.
The improved trail will create a safe and fun space for everyone — young people, adults, and seniors — to enjoy, while also encouraging everyone to get active, and enjoy nature.
This investment is part of Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy, which aims to create and improve pathways, bike lanes, and pedestrian bridges all over the country.
“The Government of Canada is committed to making travel by active transportation easier, safer, and more convenient for Canadians. Improvements to the Waterfront Trail in Whitby will make the trail more welcoming for people of all ages and abilities. Whether by bike, walking, or rolling, the trail will encourage residents to enjoy the outdoors.
This renewal will be welcomed by hikers and bikers passing through our community," said Ryan Turnbull, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry and Member of Parliament for Whitby, on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“Redevelopment of the waterfront is a major priority for our community and for Whitby Council. The Waterfront Trail is a popular attraction for residents and visitors who use it for sightseeing, walking, and biking. This funding from Infrastructure Canada will help ensure the trail continues to be a focal point of our waterfront, offering active transportation and recreation opportunities for Whitby and the many communities connected to us through the Great Lakes Waterfront Trail," said Elizabeth
Roy, Mayor, Town of Whitby.
• The Government of Canada is investing $2,599,377 in this project through the Active Transportation Fund (ATF), and the Town of Whitby is contributing $3,900,623.
• The Active Transportation Fund is providing $400 million over five years, starting in 2021, to make travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable, in support of Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy.
• Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy is the country's first coast-to-coast-tocoast strategic approach for promoting active transportation and its benefits. The strategy’s aim is to make data-driven and evidence-based investments to build new and expanded active transportation networks and to create safe environments for more equitable, healthy, active and sustainable travel options to thrive.
• The Government of Canada is investing $14.9 billion over eight years in reliable, fast, affordable, and clean public transit. This funding includes $3 billion per year in long-term, predictable federal public transit funding which will be available to support transit solutions beginning in 2026-27.
• Since 2015, the Government of Canada has announced an unprecedented $22.6 billion invested in more than 1,400 transit projects in communities from coast to coast to coast.