Investing in active transportation infrastructure

This Strategic Story is just one example of how the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan and community feedback helped inform the 2024-2026 staff tabled budget.

Infrastructure and Active Transportation:

We’re providing residents with resilient public infrastructure and sustainable active transportation solutions.

What we heard

When residents shared their vision for the future of Waterloo, common themes included:

Ensure safe, clearly signed and well maintained infrastructure that supports transit, cycling, and pedestrians, not only car transportation.

Some of the things the City has been working towards relating to active transportation, pedestrians and public transit are great (i.e. multi use trail network) but more is needed.

I imagine being able to walk to a grocery store, bike to a local theatre, and take a bus / rail to the mall.

Why it's important

Active transportation is a big part of how many people get around in Waterloo, with growing demand! Investing in active transportation infrastructure provides more sustainable transportation options for everyone, whether you’re just leaving the car at home for the day or don’t have one at all. Active transportation for regular commutes, for exercise, or to access transit all contributes to greenhouse gas reductions and our overall community wellbeing.

What we're doing

With budget adoption, you will see projects to add additional kilometres of multi-use trails and paths, additional sidewalks, and new cycling facilities to the City’s active transportation network. We’ll support existing infrastructure with upgrades like pedestrian lighting and other trail improvements on the Brighton Trailhead and Laurel Greenway. We’ll also support new development areas by adding trails on the West Side, install the Laurel Creek Trail around the Laurel Creek Conservation Area, and upgrade both pedestrian and cycling facilities along Union Street.

Read more Strategic Stories.