The District of Central Saanich is celebrating the completion of three active transportation projects this fall. A new pathway along Benvenuto encourages walking and cycling to Butchart Gardens and Tod Inlet, and two school zones were reconfigured with light-activated crosswalks and additional sidewalks. The projects were made possible by more than $700,000 in grants from the Province of BC.
SD 63 Board Chair Tim Dunford; Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor; Minister of Tourism, Arts, Culture and Sport Lana Popham.
“Since the Active Transportation Plan was adopted last year we have been working hard to ensure key projects are ready to go when suitable grant opportunities present themselves,” said Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor. “Installing infrastructure is quite expensive and financing our Active Transportation Plan requires a multi-faceted approach. Contributions such as these really make all the difference for a community like ours with a modest tax base. We are grateful to the Province of British Columbia for recognizing the importance of these upgrades.”
Encouraging active transportation through enhanced infrastructure and addressing road safety concerns are key priorities of Council. In addition to the three recent projects, in 2022 the District began collecting a portion of taxes for active transportation infrastructure and an active transportation wayfinding signage strategy got underway.
Benvenuto pathway
The new pathway on the lower portion of Benvenuto Avenue begins near the BC Transit stop at Wallace Drive. Benvenuto Avenue is the only road access to Butchart Gardens, an internationally known public attraction, hosting over a million visitors a year. While most visitors arrive by vehicle and tourist coaches, other guests and employees access the facility by walking or cycling along Benvenuto Avenue. The 450-metre-long pathway improves safety for residents and those visiting Butchart Gardens and Tod Inlet. The path is lined with twelve cherry blossom trees donated by Butchart Gardens.
"This beautiful pathway relieves congestion on Benvenuto Avenue by giving residents an environmentally-friendly and safe option to walk or cycle to Butchart Gardens and Tod Inlet,” said Nathan Cullen, Minister of Municipal Affairs.
“This pathway embraces the rural character of Central Saanich, and Council is pleased that community members, visitors and those who work at Butchart Gardens will have a safe way to access this popular destination without a vehicle,” said Mayor Windsor.
The project received $322,800 under the Community Economic Resilience stream from the province’s Community Economic Recovery Infrastructure Program “, which was developed to support resiliency and the emerging needs of the post-pandemic B.C. economy.
School zone improvements
School zone improvements include Keating Elementary and the intersection at Wallace Drive and Marchant, which is a route travelled to both Bayside Middle School and Brentwood Elementary. Both projects include the construction of new crosswalks with flashing lights and sidewalk extensions.
“During the development of Central Saanich’s recent Active Transportation Plan, the community identified school routes as a priority and these two locations were high on the list,” said Mayor Windsor.
The school zone improvement projects were completed for $650,000 with $400,000 in grant funding from the BC Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant Program.
“Safety for kids in school zones is critically important, and with these improvements, a new generation will learn about the benefits of active transportation,” said Rob Fleming, B.C.’s Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure. “The community of Central Saanich will benefit from the improvements to these routes as we support making active transportation safer, easier, and more attractive for people in their daily lives.”
More information on the Active Transportation Plan