Belleville City Council approved an application for federal funding as part of the North Riverfront Trail Extension project.
The recommendation was approved at a council meeting on Monday.
A report from the Director of Transportation & Operations Services, Joe Reid, outlines a plan to apply for $3,780,000 in funding from the Active Transportation Fund.
A recommendation also calls for pre-budget approval of the 2026 Capital Budget in the amount of $6,300,000 for the construction of the River Front Trail Extension.
$3,780,000 would be funded by the Active Transportation Fund and $2,520,000 would come from the city’s Asset Management Reserve Fund.
The proposed Riverfront Trail extension is from the Highway 401 crossing to the roundabout in Cannifton.
It would be situated along the west side of the river and pass under the Hwy 401 bridge, with permission from the Ministry of Transportation, and connect to Millennium Drive.
In discussing the recommendation, Councillor Kathryn Brown expressed her support for the expansion.
“We talk about active transportation on an ongoing basis and encouraging people to cycle and walk and such. So this is just another means of accommodating that while at the same time ensuring that we have safety factors that allow people to now move without the obstacle of the 401 being there,” Brown told council.
Councillor Chris Malette expressed some concern about the MTO approving the project with discussion about the possible widening of Highway 401.
“Part of me wants to say, I’ll take projects that will never happen for $200 Alex, because I’m really worried about the effect of the MTO and the widening of the 401,” Councillor Malette told council.
“But I do agree wholeheartedly that we do need a continuous and an expanded active transportation trail, and certainly as chair of the green Task Force, it’s in keeping with our our mandate to encourage and enhance any active transportation wherever and whenever.”
Councillor Malette said he would support the project albeit with a “jaundiced eye” on whether or not the Ministry of Transportation will support the project.
In a recorded vote, all councillors and Mayor Neil Ellis voted yes to the recommendation.
The report outlines that applications must be received by February 26, 2025, and the project completion, as per the funding requirements, is March 31, 2030.
