British Columbians will soon benefit from more improvements for safer highways in their home communities, thanks to a 50% increase to the province’s Community Safety Enhancement Program, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure Todd Stone announced today at UBCM.

“The Province invests about $5 million each year in the Community Safety Enhancement Program – a program that uses the ideas and input from municipalities and local residents to build projects, like better lighting, new crosswalks and improved signage,” said Stone. “These are small projects that make big differences on our highways, and I’m pleased to say that we will increase this year’s fund by 50% – or $2.5 million more – to invest a total of $7.5 million in these important projects.”

Priorities that fall under the Community Safety Enhancement Program include increased roadside delineation, dedicated left-turn signals, lighting, improved pedestrian crosswalks, additional traffic signals and more bus and brake check pullouts.

With a number of projects that focus on road improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and transit users, these investments not only enhance the safety of communities throughout B.C., they also pave the way for building better options for the environment.

Over the coming weeks, regional staff from the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure will engage local governments and local police forces to identify projects for this new funding.

The Province has previously worked with local governments to identify more than 40 projects throughout B.C. for 2016/17, and is now in a position to explore additional priorities in light of the newly allocated $2.5 million.

Learn more:

Follow the work of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure online at: http://www.tranbc.ca