The Squamish-Lillooet Regional District (SLRD) board voted to allocate $95,000 in funding towards Pemberton’s Farm Road East Connector Trail recently, with the money to be used for lighting.
In a letter requesting the additional funds to come from the SLRD’s Area C Community Works Funds, Pemberton Mayor Mike Richman talked up the importance of the broader Friendship Trail, which connects Mount Currie and Pemberton.
“Primarily due to inflation, the increased cost has exceeded initial projections. This requested additional investment is crucial to ensure the trail’s safety and accessibility for residents and visitors, particularly during evenings and adverse weather conditions,” he wrote to Area C director Russell Mack in October 2023.
“The Friendship Trail serves as a bridge between neighbourhoods and communities, fostering economic opportunities and facilitating cultural exchanges. Through your support in this investment, we will see strengthened connections between neighbouring communities.”
The SLRD board voted unanimously to support the additional funds at the Dec. 13 board meeting.
The Farm Road East Connector Trail is part of the broader Friendship Trail, which has received millions of dollars in funding over the years, including almost $420,000 in federal funding earlier this year for the Farm Road East Connector itself.
The Farm Road East Connector is a 0.75-km section of trail intended to connect two existing segments of the Friendship Trail to Pemberton Farm Road East, and would therefore complete the link between Pemberton and Mount Currie.
When the federal funding was announced in late July, it was noted the Village of Pemberton was contributing $186,800 to the project, while the SLRD was contributing $92,000.
The additional $95,000 therefore more than doubles the SLRD’s contribution to the connector portion.
In the works for more than a decade, the Friendship Trail is a collaboration between the Village of Pemberton, Lil’wat Nation and the SLRD, and is expected to be fully completed by 2024.
The trail functions as “a safe and designated pathway” for residents of all ages—including Lil’wat Nation members living in Mount Currie—to travel to school, work, or access other essential services on foot, by bike or even on horseback.
More funds sought to make up multi-million dollar gap
Hot off the heels of a $1-million grant application, the SLRD has applied for another $60k from the Trans Canada Trail Funding program for the Sea to Sky Trail.
The hope is the funds can be used to close a 4.5-km gap in the Sea to Sky Trail referred to as the Cheakamus Canyon Highway section, right next to Highway 99 and the Cheakamus River.
According to a staff report presented at the Dec. 13 SLRD board meeting, “a majority of the proposed trail construction will take place within the highway right of way and BC Hydro right of way, requiring close cooperation with provincial agencies,” lending to the complexity of the segment the district is seeking funding for.
The Sea to Sky Trail has been a project of the SLRD since 2007, with 130km of 165km of trail constructed so far.
The Cheakamus Canyon segment is estimated to cost $3,977,873, with the SLRD having secured $1,007,000 in funding to date.
The $1 million in extra funding applied for in October will close the gap to a little over $1.9 million. The $60k applied for on Dec. 14 is the maximum amount able to be applied for under the Trans Canada Trail Foundation’s current grant program.
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