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The City of Burlington is pleased to officially announce the completion of the Plains Road bike facilities and resurfacing project, which includes Burlington’s first series of protected bike intersections. Other work in this project included construction of new bikeways, a rain garden, resurfacing the road, curb and sidewalk replacement, driveway and landscape improvements, new transit stops, hydro pole relocations and streetlight upgrades.
The protected bike intersections are the first of its kind for Burlington. These intersections are designed to increase physical separation from motor vehicles, improve sightlines, reduce the likelihood of highspeed vehicle turns and significantly reduce the distance and time during which cyclists are at higher risks of encountering a vehicle.
Rain Garden and Low Impact Design
Low impact design elements were built into this project with the installation of a rain garden at the intersection of Howard Road and Plains Road West, featuring 18 new trees and a variety of different grass species and flowers. This rain garden will improve and enhance storm water conveyance and quality before discharging into our freshwater systems. It will also serve as a cooling and retention system lowering the temperature and reducing the volume of storm water entering our storm sewer systems and creeks. This promotes fish habitat and reduces algae bloom, as well as reduces stress on our storm sewer systems during storm events.
Links to the Climate Action Plan
This project links to the Climate Action Plan:
- Vehicle emissions account for nearly 40 per cent of greenhouse gas emissions in Burlington. Providing protected bike lanes and intersections will help motivate/encourage residents to consider using active transportation as a commuting option.
Links to Climate Resilient Burlington
This project links to Climate Resilient Burlington:
- Preparing for future climate conditions.
- Investing in green infrastructure to reduce flood risk, enhance habitat connectivity and support other ecosystem services.
- Incorporating shade to reduce the urban heat island effect, supporting the community during extreme heat events.
Links to the Integrated Mobility Plan
This project links to the Integrated Mobility Plan by:
- Making getting around Burlington safer and more accessible for cyclists and pedestrians.
- Providing a wide range of options for getting around no matter what your age, means or ability, including walking, cycling, public transit and vehicles.
- Using compact modes of travel like buses, bicycles and walking for more efficient transportation.
Canada Community-Building Fund
This project was funded in part by the Canada Community-Building Fund (CCBF), formerly the federal Gas Tax Fund. The CCBF is a permanent source of federal funding earmarked for community infrastructure projects. It’s provided up front, twice-a-year, to provinces and territories, who in turn flow this funding to their municipalities to support local infrastructure priorities.
In Ontario, the Fund is administered by the Association of Municipalities of Ontario, who deliver the CCBF to 443 municipalities.
To learn more about the CCBF in Ontario, visit buildingcommunities.ca.
For more information about the project, visit burlington.ca/plainsroadresurfacing.
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Quotes
The Honourable Karina Gould, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities
“The completion of the Plains Road protected bikeways will make it easier, safer and more comfortable for cyclists of all ages to travel around the community. Infrastructure that supports active transportation infrastructure plays an important role in building stronger, more connected communities, while helping us meet our obligations to reduce carbon emissions and protect the environment.”
Mayor Marianne Meed Ward
“Burlington’s Aldershot community is filled with many great people, shops, businesses and parks – and now, it’s also home to our city’s first ever protected bike intersection and bike lanes! This is something cyclists across our city have been asking for and I’m glad we’re able to deliver. Investing in green infrastructure is an investment in our community’s future and it’s very exciting to see the results, especially when it’s the first of its kind in Burlington.”
Councillor Kelvin Galbraith, Ward 1
“I would personally like to thank all of the residents and businesses for their patience over the past two years as we completed this very important project. The final product looks beautiful, and my office has received many compliments about the design and finishes. We are very fortunate here in Aldershot to have Burlington’s first safe bicycle lanes as we move towards other forms of mobility within our city. As we grow around our future Major Transit Station Area’s, these connections will become increasingly more important to assist residents in getting around the city and depend less on the automobile.”
Scott Hamilton, Director of Engineering Services
“We’re extremely proud of this project as it aligns with several key city initiatives, advancing the vision outlined in our Integrated Mobility Plan, the Climate Action Plan and Climate Resilient Burlington. The introduction of new bike lanes and protected intersections is a significant step towards encouraging individuals of all ages and abilities to consider cycling as a viable alternative to driving. The rain garden provides many environmental benefits and assists with flood prevention. The successful design was made possible by leveraging internal staff expertise and fostering collaboration across various departments within our organization.”
Links and Resources
Plains Road Bikeway and Resurfacing project page
Canada Community-Building Fund
Photo
Ribbon cutting, left to right:
Aaron Kuryluk, Katie Haynes, Rob Stuart, Janine Yaromich, Councillor Nisan, Don Thorp, Councillor Stolte, Councillor Galbraith, Mayor Meed Ward, the Honourable Karina Gould, Leader of the Government in the House of Commons and Member of Parliament for Burlington, on behalf of the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities, Scott Hamilton, Allan Magi
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