Hamilton proposes to continue adding cycling infrastructure in 2022

Hamilton is set to invest $5.4 million in 37 new bike lanes, multi-use lanes and other cycling projects for 2022, an increase from 2021 and a considerable increase since the city began spending on cycling infrastructure in 2018.

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

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

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

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

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

Ontario’s Municipal Commuter Cycling program provided $3.7 million, with the city contributing $927,000, helping fund the Keddy access trail, Hunter Street bike lanes, Hamilton Bike Share expansion and parking for bicycles throughout the city.

Several projects that were installed in 2021 include a new two-way segregated bike lane along Victoria Avenue between the Canadian National tracks and Cannon Street; new cycle 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.