Williams Lake city council approved a direct award to develop an Active Transportation Plan for Williams Lake.
The contract has been awarded to Fraser Basin Council for $100,000.
"We're very excited to be able to work towards the creation of a long-awaited active transportation network plan for the city," said Jane Wellburn, with Fraser Basin Council.
In March, the city was successful in its grant application to the provincial government, when the city still had staff working on active transportation and climate change issues. After Natalie Swift left her role with the city, it was not filled.
The active transportation grant provides $50,000 in matching provincial funds towards the development of an active transportation plan with the city contributing $50,000. The deadline to create the plan is March of 2025, and so work needs to begin quickly in order to try and meet the grant deadline.
The plan will identify specific needs in the city to address the community and infrastructure needs to enable safer cycling, walking and other forms of active transportation. Fraser Basin Council has already been working with the city in recent months to establish an active transportation working group and engage with stakeholders and members of the community on active transportation issues, which city council had committed to doing more than a year ago.
Wellburn said they're really looking forward to working with the consulting company Urban Systems.
Urban Systems developed the BC Active Transportation Guide, which provides design guidelines and best practices for implementing active transportation infrastructure and has worked with many communities on active transportation planning projects.
"Their expertise will be critical in creating a plan that is perfect for our community," said Wellburn, noting the input of the active transportation working group will then provide opportunities for local user feedback and consultation.
The active transportation working group has so far met twice and will be meeting again in September to continue developing their terms of reference and engaging on active transportation in the community.
