Mayne Island is celebrating completion of a $4.5-million pathway linking Miners Bay and the Village Bay ferry terminal.
The Mayne Island Regional Trail officially opened to the public Wednesday, Oct. 16, after two years of construction to create 2.3 kilometres of two-way gravel surfaced trail for pedestrians and bicycles.
“I am thrilled about the opening,” said Capital Regional District (CRD) Board chair Colin Plant. “Projects like these not only contribute to the safety and wellbeing of residents and visitors in the region but they also help to contribute to local and national climate action targets by giving people a greener way to travel around the places they live and visit.”
Mayne Island’s trail was selected as the first phase of the multi-year Gulf Islands Regional Trails Plan, approved by the CRD Board in 2018. Officials have said the project was a “pilot” to learn more about future regional trail development within the Gulf Islands.
Paul Brent, Southern Gulf Islands Electoral Area director, called such routes key to supporting resident and visitor needs –– and economic development.
“I am thrilled this project is complete,” said Brent, “and I look forward to what the future phases of the Gulf Islands Regional Trails Plan hold for these communities.”
The CRD’s regional parks service directly funded a portion of the project, with support from a $2.8-million grant from the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program and $500,000 in project funds from B.C.’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program.