Town of Arborg and Village of Dunnottar benefit from Small Communities Transportation Fund under the federal Gas Tax Fund

ARBORG, MANITOBA--(Marketwired - May 21, 2015) -

Representatives from three levels of government were in the Town of Arborg today to announce funding for new multi-use pathways for the Town of Arborg and the Village of Dunnottar. Residents in both communities will soon be able to walk, run, or cycle on routes reserved specifically for non-motorized traffic.

In Arborg, an asphalt path of close to 230 metres will run from River Road to Crosstown Avenue. Scheduled for a September completion, it will provide local residents with a safe walking route with access to nearby businesses.

Construction is scheduled to begin in July on several limestone walkways, together totalling approximately one kilometer, from the Dunnottar Station Museum to the south end of the community. They will increase pedestrian and cyclist safety especially during the busy summer months. They will promote an active, healthy lifestyle in an age friendly community like Dunnottar that has an extremely active senior population.

These two projects are benefitting from the Small Communities Transportation Fund, which reserves a part of the province's annual federal Gas Tax Fund allocation to help address the active transportation and public transportation needs of Manitoba's smaller communities.

Quick Facts

• Arborg Walking Path:
• The Government of Canada is contributing $25,087 for the new walking path, through Manitoba's Small Communities Transportation Fund, under the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• The Town of Arborg will contribute $268,599 for this new walking path, for a total project cost of $293,686.
• Dunnottar Walking Paths:
• The Government of Canada is contributing $6,500 for the new walking paths, through Manitoba's Small Communities Transportation Fund, under the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• The Village of Dunnottar will contribute $11,500 for these new walking paths, for a total project cost of $18,000.
• Between 2014 and 2019, the Government of Canada is providing over $340 million in funding, including $65,470,748 in 2015, for municipal infrastructure in Manitoba through the federal Gas Tax Fund.
• In Manitoba, a portion of the annual funding is set aside for the Small Communities Transportation Fund, a provincially administered, application-based funding program that supports small, rural Manitoba communities' investments in eligible transit, handi-transit or active transportation projects. Annual funding of up to $200,000 is available under the program over five years, starting in 2014.

Quotes

"Our Government is pleased to support the construction of new walking paths in Arborg and Dunnottar. They will offer residents looking to walk and bike through those communities, or simply trying to access local businesses, with an alternative and safer route, away from the busy roads. The federal Gas Tax Fund, part of the historic New Building Canada Plan, is just one of the ways we are carrying out our commitment to build better communities while creating jobs and enhancing economic growth across the country."

James Bezan, Member of Parliament for Selkirk-Interlake. On behalf of the Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"The Manitoba government delivers the Small Com.munities Transportation Fund to help municipalities finance important transportation infrastructure projects that will provide short and long term economic savings and improved health and wellness for individuals, communities and the environment. Community-identified projects include walking, cycling, public transit and handi-transit to accommodate disabled commuters."

The Honourable Drew Caldwell, Minister for Municipal Government

"As Arborg continues to grow in population, our transportation infrastructure must also expand to fill our resident and visitor needs. This new pathway increases our current walking trail system by over 700 feet and connects existing paths to both commercial and scenic areas of Arborg. We are very pleased to be given this opportunity, through the granting of these funds, to see this project become reality."

Randy Sigurdson, Mayor Town of Arborg

"The walking trail will encourage more active living by providing a safe place for walking and cycling and the plantings, both trees and native plant gardens, will provide people with a healthy area to enjoy rural living."

Rick Gamble, Mayor Village of Dunnottar

Associated Links

To learn more about the federal Gas Tax Fund visit: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/gtf-fte-eng.html.

Information on the Small Communities Transportation fund is available at: www.gov.mb.ca/ia/bldgcomm/sctf.html

For additional information on the New Building Canada Plan, visit: www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/plan-eng.html.

To learn more about the Government of Canada's focus on jobs and the economy consult Canada's Economic Action Plan: http://www.budget.gc.ca/2015/home-accueil-eng.html.

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