North Shore roads and cycling paths could be getting some improvements after TransLink announced a commitment of more than $45 million in road projects across Metro Vancouver.
TransLink's 2014 Base Plan earmarked $39 million of the funding to operate, maintain and rehabilitate the regional Major Road Network, or MRN.
"TransLink is committed to investing in projects that will improve the regional transportation network for cars, bikes, pedestrians and buses," stated Doug Kelsey, chief operating officer at TransLink, in a press release.
The contribution also commits $6.7 million to 22 capital improvement road and bicycle projects in 12 Metro Vancouver municipalities, including the Spirit Trail in West Vancouver and three bike routes in the City of North Vancouver, including the Jones and St. Andrews routes.
"By working with our municipal partners to identify road improvement projects, we can help ensure that people and goods move efficiently and safely throughout the region," stated Kelsey.
Funding for the municipalities is based on the amount of lane kilometres within each area. TransLink's 2014 contribution is $11,140 per lane kilometre for the operation and maintenance of the MRN and is $7,960 per lane kilometre for pavement rehabilitation.
The North Shore municipalities are set to receive more than $1.3 million in operation, maintenance and rehabilitation funding, which includes everything from street cleaning and snow removal, to patching potholes and pavement rehabilitation. West Vancouver will receive $230,000, while the District of North Vancouver and the City of North Vancouver will receive $810,000 and $295,000, respectively.
The North Shore will be receiving a total of $493,000 in funding for major road network and bike projects.
ICBC also announced its commitment to road safety. Last year, ICBC invested approximately $284,000 in 14 road improvement projects and safety studies across the North Shore.
The most recent evaluation of the road improvement projects concluded that over a two-year period, for every dollar invested ICBC and its customers see a return rate of five times the investment.
