Hamilton proposes to keep adding cycling infrastructure in 2022

Thespec.com
Dec. 1, 2021

Hamilton is expected to invest $5.4 million in 37 new bike lanes, multi-use paths and other cycling projects for 2022, an increase from 2021, and a sizable boost from when the city starting spending on cycling infrastructure in 2018.

“(The spending) is up from previous years,” said Mayor Fred Eisenberger, during a recent Nov. 22 budget meeting. “Quite significantly, if you look at 2018.”

In 2018, Hamilton spent $1.3 million on a variety of cycling projects, while in 2019 the city spent a record $6 million on cycling infrastructure with the majority of it from the province or other grants.

But in 2022, a total of about 32 kilometres of bike lanes and other infrastructure items are proposed to be installed by the city. These projects include a multi-use path along Arbour Street to Upper Red Hill Valley Parkway along Stone Church Road; a multi-use path along Centennial Parkway from Confederation Drive to Goderich Road; a multi-use path on Cootes Drive along Baldwin Street to Dundas Street; bike lane enhancements along Highland Road between Winterberry Drive and Glenhollow Road; bike lanes for King Street from Stoney Brook Drive to Highway 8; a multi-use path along Southcote Drive from Highway 403 to Garner Road and multi-use paths along Nebo Road, along Rymal Road to Twenty Road and on Mud Street from Isaac Brock Drive to Upper Centennial Parkway.

“I support all of the projects along Mud Street,” said Stoney Creek Coun. Brad Clark.

In 2021, the city spent $4.8 million in cycling infrastructure, but several of the projects were not implemented because of design, and weather-related installation issues. These projects will be completed in 2022.

The Ontario Municipal Commuter Cycling program provided $3.7 million, with the city contributing $927,000, helping to fund the Keddy Access Trail, Hunter Street bike lanes, Hamilton Bike Share expansion and cycling parking across the city.

Several projects that were installed in 2021 include a new bi-directional separated bike lane along Victoria Avenue between the Canadian National Railway tracks and Cannon Street; new bike lanes along Hatt Street/York Road between John Street and Baldwin Street in Dundas; new painted buffers along Stone Church and Paramount roads; and new bike bollards and hazard markers along King Street between Paradise Road and Dundas Street in Ward 1.