The City of Vaughan, the Regional Municipality of York and the federal government has committed a combined $16 million to build cycle tracks, sidewalks, and traffic signals on Jane Street.

Announced by MP Francesco Sorbara and Vaughan Mayor Steven Del Duca, the project aims improve safety, accessibility and traffic flow along Jane Street.

Between Highway 7 and Teston Road, Jane Street will be upgraded by adding eight kilometres of cycle tracks on both sides of the road; four kilometres of new sidewalks, to complete areas along the road where sidewalks are missing; and new streetlights.

The road is a key cycling and transit corridor that connects several neighbourhoods, business districts, the Vaughan Healthcare Centre Precinct, and York University.

The new tracks and sidewalks will link the Jane Street cycle lanes to the City of Vaughan’s planned Edgeley Pond and Park and Black Creek Trail systems, which will connect to the City of Toronto’s planned Jane Jacobs Promenade and Bikeway, and the planned Vaughan Super Trail.

The investment contributes to the federal government’s National Active Transportation Strategy by supporting planning and awareness activities.

“The City of Vaughan is committed to supporting active, accessible and sustainable travel options that provide our residents with many alternatives to get around Vaughan,” said Mayor Steven Del Duca. “That is precisely what building an interconnected city of the future is all about. The Government of Canada’s Active Transportation fund has supported our efforts to create an ideal cycling corridor along Jane Street, with new in-boulevard cycle tracks as well as sidewalk and street enhancements that will improve overall safety and accessibility.”

The federal government is investing $9,600,000 in the project through its Active Transportation Fund. The Regional Municipality of York and the City of Vaughan are each providing $3,200,000.

The federal Active Transportation Fund will provide $400 million over five years to make travel by active transportation easier, safer, more convenient and more enjoyable.

Once complete, the active transportation improvements to Jane Street are expected to reduce carbon emissions between 79 and 137 tonnes annually and serve between 14,000 and 25,000 trips in its first year.