Richmond News
The majority of Richmond city council has voted against more funding for a bike and pedestrian lane on Steveston Highway, essentially quashing the project.
Two sections of a three-section multi-use pathway from Railway Avenue to Shell Road – which had already been approved by previous councils – was back at the council table on Tuesday at a hastily called committee meeting. …
Richmond Mayor Malcolm Brodie expressed his frustration at the opposition to the multi-use pathway, saying, not only was it part of the local vision to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, it supported regional goals as well.
“We’re looking to the future – that’s what we want to do, look to the future,” he said.
Furthermore, the Steveston Highway pathway would increase cycling capacity, and those who preferred Williams Road could still use it as their preferred route, he added.
Brodie noted the plan has been in front of city council “a dozen times,” but “all of a sudden there’s this big problem.” The first two phases were approved in 2019 and 2020.
“I believe that to turn it down was a mistake,” Brodie told the Richmond News after the meeting. …