The Town of Antigonish will receive $545,000 in funding for the next phase of the Active Transportation Spine Trail.
This announcement demonstrates a collaborative Federal and Munipal commitment to accessibility and active mobility in the Town of Antigonish. This trail will ultimately connect with the larger network of Active Transportation trails in the region, allowing diverse options to access services in the Town including St. Martha's Regional Hospital.
Thank you to our local MP and Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Jaime Battiste for speaking at the Antigonish Heritage Museum to announce support from the Government of Canada:
The Government of Canada is proud to invest in active transportation infrastructure that will create safer, more accessible sidewalks and pathways for pedestrians and cyclists, which will improve the quality of life for residents and visitors in Antigonish.
Jaime Battiste, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations and Member of Parliament for Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish
Town of Antigonish Mayor Sean Cameron also spoke, and extended thanks to MP Battiste during the event:
What residents and visitors will see from this investment of $545,000 is a wider multi-use pathway along one of our busiest corridors. The current sidewalk opposite St. Martha's Regional Hospital has not been fully accessible for some time, and we are excited to make this upgrade. This added section of accessible pathway will connect existing routes to the Hospital.
This extension of the Active Transportation Trail will happen at the same time as other crucial infrastructure upgrades as part of the larger Bay Street Project. This funding announcement brings fresh momentum to our planning, and we look forward to what's to come.
His Worship Sean Cameron, Mayor, Town of Antigonish
Thank you to Deputy Mayor Andrew Murray for being the emcee of the afternoon's announcement.
The next section of trail, connecting the existing trail recently finished at the east end of Main Street as part of the larger Bay Street Project, will continue a 3-metre-wide multi-use path up to St. Martha's Regional Hospital entrance.
Staff in the Town's projects department are excited to get moving on further planning for this next section that will include the relocation of utility poles that are currently in the path of travel. This will improve accessibility for travellers, snow removal crews, and recreation.
MP Jaime Battiste joins members from the Town of Antigonish town council to identify one of the existing poles that obstruct the sidewalk. This pole and others will be relocated from the path of travel as part of the extended 3 metre wide Active Transportation trail.