New cycling and walking infrastructure coming to SoHo and other London neighbourhoods | CBC News

New funding from Ottawa and the province will bring additional pedestrian and cycling routes to London’s streets to make it easier for people to get around the city, officials said at an announcement on Thursday.

The $24.5 million investment will pay for five transportation projects that include 13 km of new bike lanes along Bradley Avenue, Cheapside Street, and Central Avenue, and a 750-metre trail extension and district park along the Thames Valley Parkway’s (TVP) south branch.

The TVP pathway will extend through the Old Victoria Hospital lands, connecting the SoHo neighbourhood to the rest of the city. Improved mobility will help revitalize the area that’s been at the core of affordable housing development for two years, said Mayor Josh Morgan. 

“What you see is the emergence of a vibrant neighbourhood here in SoHo. This parallels very well with the investments in housing to make sure it’s not just housing infrastructure, but infrastructure that really improves quality of life as well,” he said. 

“This will be a neighbourhood where people want to come to, they’ll want to live in, where they’ll be able to access great ways to walk along the Thames River and the multitude of pathways that stem from it.”

The new TVP pathway will add to the multi-use pathway between Wellington and Maitland streets on the Thames River’s north side. It will also link SoHo’s south-end at Colborne Street to the rapid transit network expansion along the Wellington Gateway, extending from downtown. Construction for the TVP extension begins next year. 

The investment is a collaboration of all three levels of government, with the federal government contributing $9.8 million through its Public Transit Infrastructure Stream (PTIS), and $8.1 million from Ontario’s Ministry of Transportation. The City of London chipped in $6.5 million. 

More commute options ‘exciting’: cycling advocate

The funding will also support 60 to 75 bike parking spaces with locking features, shelter, benches, lighting and signage. A location for the bike structure has not yet been decided. 

“We have calls in every community to see more options for cyclists and for those who want to walk. Options are exactly what’s being put on the table, giving people the choice to get to where they need to go,” said Peter Fragiskatos, MP for London North Centre. 

Bike lanes and parking spaces will allow more people to comfortably travel car-free, and feel safer while cycling, said Colleen Murphy of the London Cycle Link. 

“We know there’s going to be affordable housing [in SoHo] and for most people, a car is unavailable,” Murphy said. “When we’re looking at secure parking, it’s nice to know that the mode of transportation for people who cycle can be in a protected space.”

More bike lanes can reduce commute times for people who work on the city’s outskirts and have to rely on public transit Murphy said, adding that she’s pleased with London’s climate action plan which seeks to reduce overall car use in the city. 

With several housing units underway in SoHo, better infrastructure will prepare the neighbourhood for an influx of population growth, said Mark Thomas, chair of the SoHo Community Association. 

“It’s another piece in the puzzle of getting SoHo back on its feet,” he said. “There’s a large amount of population that’s going to be living in SoHo and any of the infrastructure work is all great.” 

Other upgrades will make six to nine intersections with signals more accessible for people with disabilities and enhanced traffic control devices at almost three dozen pedestrian crossings.