BC minister of transportation and infrastructure Todd Stone made close to $1.5 million in provincial funding announcements at a Powell River Chamber of Commerce meeting on Wednesday, March 29, for a variety of programs and projects on the upper Sunshine Coast.
Stone provided some highlights from the recently announced provincial budget and addressed some community concerns around the region’s roads and ferries.
“With all of that, I do also have a few announcements that I’m proud to be in person to make,” Stone told the more than 80 people attending the meeting.
Stone announced $1.03 million for the Powell River Airport runway extension project from the province’s BC Air Access Program and said that although airports are the federal government’s jurisdiction, the province recognizes the important role the infrastructure plays for communities.
In addition to the airport, Stone also announced additional funds for cycling lanes. Powell River will receive close to $184,000 this year for bike lanes along Manson Avenue between Cranberry and Westview from BikeBC. It is the fourth year in a row the city has had its grant application approved, which has helped the city to continue developing its municipal cycling plan.
The next phase of cycling development, about 7.6 kilometres of shared and dedicated bike lanes, will be constructed on both sides of Manson Avenue between Joyce Avenue and Drake Street. Shared lanes will be created on Drake Street to Timberlane Avenue, and then a combination of shared and dedicated lanes will be built along Timberlane and Hemlock Street to tie the city’s bike lanes from Westview to Townsite.
City of Powell River councillor Russell Brewer, who is also president of the Powell River Cycling Association, said after the meeting that he was pleased with the funding announcements. The airport runway extension, in particular, would have cost city taxpayers close to $1.4 million.
“It’s great news,” said Brewer. “This is a project we wouldn’t have otherwise been able to do without borrowing.”
The city applied for the airport grant last November. The project will extend the runway by 300 feet and, when complete, will allow larger and heavier aircraft to land.
According to a report from City of Powell River director of infrastructure Tor Birtig, the added runway length could add more than 1,300 available seats on flights travelling in and out of the airport.
Stone also announced $175,000 from Destination BC, on behalf of BC jobs, tourism and skills training minister Shirley Bond, for additional marketing funds to promote activities on the Sunshine Coast.
“Lots of things are coming together,” said Brewer. “It’s almost as if there’s a provincial election coming up.”
Stone’s final announcement, on behalf of education minister Mike Bernier, was $103,123 over three years for School District 47, in order to buy trades education equipment, including vertical panel saws, convection ovens and a welding simulator.
Powell River Board of Education chair Doug Skinner said the board appreciates the ministry’s support and recognition of its focus on developing more trades-related education, something that over the past few years has been a model for other school districts in the province.
“We’re just thrilled,” said Skinner, “that the province has come forward with this kind of money for trades.”
