Whereas in 2017 Council passed a resolution to adopt Vision Zero;
And whereas, in 2018 Council passed a resolution to update Sustainable Transportation Strategy 2018-2022;
And whereas, in 2019 Council passed a resolution to adopt the Long Range Transportation Plan – “Let’s Move Peel” which includes action items to support and encourage active mobility, address climate change, and mitigate community transportation greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions;
And whereas, on October 24, 2019, Regional Council passed a motion declaring a climate emergency outlining the Region of Peel’s commitment to taking action on climate change;
And whereas, in 2019 Council welcomed the Region’s first comprehensive Climate Change Master Plan including both mitigation and adaptation goals to reduce greenhouse gas emission 45 per cent by 2030 and 80 per cent by 2050;
And whereas, Peel Region saw a nearly four-fold increase in school participation in Peel’s Bike to School Week between 2016 and 2019;
And whereas, in 2020 the Region of Peel saw a significant increase in demand for active transportation infrastructure;
And whereas, Peel Region has one of the highest diabetes rates in Ontario, one in eight adults, projected to rise to one in six by 2025 (the overall provincial rate being one in 12);
And whereas, investments in built environment neighborhoods that support active transportation and active mobility support residents in living to their full health and well-being;
And whereas, the Sustainable Transportation Strategy is a long-term plan which includes the full implementation of active transportation infrastructure by 2041;
And whereas, cycling and walking reduce GHG emissions, are more cost effective, and have enormous benefits in providing social determinants to health;
And whereas, the introduction and availability of electric bicycles and scooters have impacted active transportation in terms of offering a viable commuting option;
And whereas, on February 10, 2021 the Federal government announced $14.9 billion of funding over the next eight years to support infrastructure projects as part a plan to create one million jobs, fight climate change, and rebuild a more sustainable and resilient economy;
And whereas, on March 12, 2021, the Federal government announced the first federal fund of $400 million over five years dedicated to building active transportation to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails for cycling, waling and pedestrian bridges;
Therefore be it resolved, that the Region of Peel commit to advancing Sustainable Active Mobility in 2021-2022;
And further, that staff engage with local advocates who regularly use existing active transportation infrastructure in order to recognize opportunities and priority projects that enhance the connectivity of active transportation networks across the Region;
And further, that Regional staff coordinate capital plans with local municipalities to identify and bring forward sustainable transportation projects through the annual budget process, thereby ensuring alignment in the delivery of priorities identified in the Sustainable Transportation Strategy;
And further, that Regional staff work with local municipalities to identify and prioritize gaps within and between the Regional and local active transportation networks on an annual basis;
And further, where grant programs support active transportation infrastructure projects, Regional staff prioritize applications for these funding sources, either separately or in joint application with local municipalities where opportunities arise;
And further, that staff work with the Credit Valley Conservation and the Toronto and Region Conservation Authority to facilitate prioritization of their respective active transportation projects;
And further, that staff report back to a future meeting of Regional Council on facilitating the use of electric bicycles and creating a campaign to educate the community on safe transportation etiquette;
And further, that staff report back to a future meeting of Regional Council regarding the status of implementation of Sustainable Active Mobility infrastructure and programs throughout the Region on a semi-annual basis.