The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) received a $20,000 grant from the Union of BC Municipalities to take an inventory of Cortes Island’s existing walking and cycling routes and plan for future development. The SRD made the announcement Aug. 17.

Meredith Starkey, SRD Manager of Planning and Parks, said the goal is to take some of the vehicle carbon emissions off the roads and encourage the usage of alternate forms of transportation.

This project is a continuation of the work that began with the Cortes Island Transportation Demand Study (2017).

“Of course that is looking at all modes of transport and getting a sense of how people move about the island by all modes. So there are a lot of recommendations that relate to making car use more effective and more efficient on the island. So it covers a broad range, “ said Starkey. “The SRD doesn’t have a transportation service on Cortes Island. Our role in transportation on the island is somewhat limited. That is why we are more focused on the active transport side, which is in fitting with our parks and planning mandate.”

One of the roads on Cortes Island. Photo courtesy the SRD.

The first step is to take an inventory, which also identifies the gaps and sections where there are challenges (like steep hills).

“If you cannot get to the ferry terminal from somewhere on Cortes, that would be a potential area for improvement,” said Starkey.

View of the BC Ferry terminal from Whales Rest park on Cortes Island. Photo courtesy of the SRD.

The information she gathers can be used to create maps and brochures to help people use the existing infrastructure.

It may also be incorporated into the next Cortes Island Community Plan (2012) and Zoning Bylaw (2002), both of which need to be reviewed.

Starkey said the SRD wants any recommendations for future development to be community driven.

“As part of this project we have reached out to the Friends of Cortes Island (FOCI), the Klahoose First Nation and we are trying to engage the community directly so that the needs that are identified, the potential areas of improvement, the desires of the community - that’s what really should come through," she said.