Part of the Sea to River Bikeway may soon get a facelift.
A proposal to enhance the Gilmore Urban Trail – a 3.3-kilometre stretch of the bikeway that follows the Gilmore Diversion over Highway 1 – was expected to be discussed at Thursday’s Finance and Civic Development Committee meeting. The city notes that the diversion and overpass have largely been unimproved since the Trans-Canada Highway was finished in 1964.
“It is proposed that a 640-metre long section of urban trail be constructed across the Gilmore overpass, including necessary upgrades to the pedestrian and cycling facilities and transit stops,” reads the report, which the committee was expected to adopt at the meeting.
The report notes that the current route is popular with cyclists and the city anticipates it will similarly be popular with pedestrians if these improvements are made.
Additionally, the project provides an opportunity to build a 4.6-kilometre walking loop in close proximity to BCIT, Burnaby Hospital, the Delta Hotel and numerous technology office complexes and homes.
“A ‘Still Creek tech walking loop’ would complete a recreational urban trail loop to serve office workers, students and residents in the northwest sector.”
The report seeks council’s authorization of up to $250,000 from gaming funds to come up with designs, with the total budget estimated at $2.5 million.
The city will front $250,000 for the cost of design, but the cost of the project will be shared with TransLink and possibly the provincial government.
“TransLink will fund up to 50 per cent of the cost of design and construction of eligible elements of the Gilmore Urban Trail,” reads the report, noting the project falls under the transit authority’s Bicycle Infrastructure Capital Cost Sharing program.
“The province may also fund up to 33 per cent of a three-way cost share with the city and TransLink for construction of the project.”
Council approval will likely be sought in 2015, with the project expected to be completed by 2016.
