Three communities in the Cariboo Chilcotin are receiving Vision Zero grants to improve road safety from the province.
The grants are provided through the Ministry of Health and the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. Additional funding top-ups were provided by the regional health authorities.
Williams Lake is getting $13,500 to install a solar-powered signalized crosswalk at Western Avenue and Johnson Street.
City director of development services Rob Warnock said he notices many people are not stopping at that intersection, which is busy because of its proximity the hospital and schools further north on Western.
“We want to bring awareness for the safety of children,” he told the Tribune.
Other solar-powered signalized crosswalks already in the city include the one at Western Avenue and Blair Street, Mackenzie Avenue where the new pedestrian bridge has been installed, Oliver Street in front of FreshCo and Oliver Street at Mackenzie Avenue near the Station House Gallery.
Tl’etinqox Government is receiving $20,000 to install inverse speed bumps and associated signage in high traffic areas of the community, as well as hosting community information sessions about driving under the influence in partnership with the RCMP and offering a free ATV safety course for youth.
At Tsideldel First Nation a grant of $17,500 will go to create a safe walking path for children to get to school.
Road-related injuries and deaths are a significant cause of health-care system usage and affect patient and health-system capacity.
They result in $312 million in direct health-care costs each year.
Vision Zero grants aim to support B.C.’s Active Transportation Strategy, which includes the goal of doubling the percentage of active, or human-powered, transportation by the year 2030. By making roadways safer for active transportation users, roads also become safer for people using motor vehicles.
READ MORE: Streets for All advocates press Williams Lake city council on active transportation
READ MORE: Williams Lake’s Chilcotin Road Elementary PAC gets rolling on active travel program
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