Ethel Street Active Transportation Corridor
The Ethel Street Active Transportation Corridor (ATC) project will extend bike lane infrastructure from south of Cawston Avenue to Baillie Avenue, creating a direct connection to the Okanagan Rail Trail. This extension serves as a crucial link between the existing Cawston ATC, the Okanagan Rail Trail, and the future North End Neighbourhood. Once complete, it will form a continuous four km north-south active transportation corridor that crosses Highway 97 and connects to the Sutherland Avenue and Casorso Road ATCs to the south.
Project Features:
- Protected bike lanes along Ethel Street between Cawston Avenue and Clement Avenue.
- Painted bike lanes between Clement Avenue and Baillie Avenue, with plans for future protected lanes as surrounding land use evolves.
- Intersection improvements at Cawston Avenue & Ethel Street to enhance safety and interactions between motorists and active transportation users.
- Pedestrian improvements, including new curb letdowns, sidewalk, and crosswalk improvements.
This project is part of the Transportation Master Plan and Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan, designed to improve connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians and create a safer, more seamless network. Cycling is an affordable, healthy, and sustainable alternative to driving, especially for trips under five km, which can often be just as quick by bike as by car.
The Transportation Master Plan aims to quadruple bicycle trips by 2040, which means building safe, comfortable routes that encourage more people to ride. Protected bike lanes and connected active transportation infrastructure are essential to achieving this goal and supporting growth in the city's Urban Centres and Core Area.
