10 year project plan (image credit - City of Kamloops)

By Michael Reeve

ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION

Updated City of Kamloops Active Transportation Plan showcases five major projects over the next 10 years

Feb 12, 2025 | 4:39 PM

KAMLOOPS — The City of Kamloops is close to completing an update of the Active Transportation Plan that was originally adopted by council in 2018. The plan was discussed at council’s Committee of the Whole meeting Tuesday (Feb. 11)

Modernizing the city’s active transportation network and providing more connection between Kamloops’ neighbourhoods is the plan, which includes 260 unique long-term projects.

“A big question is, ‘What order do you build these in?’ What is more important? What is less important? It’s a really tough thing to go through. We wanted to build an objective framework. We wanted to talk to our engagement groups so we could basically score all those projects and come up with a list,” said Spencer Behn, transportation engineer for the City of Kamloops.

The plan, once completed, will be incorporated into the Transportation Master Plan, allowing the city to better budget for upcoming projects.

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“Similarly with a utility project, we often try to combine some of these projects just because there is a lot of economic benefits to blowing up a road and then putting it back together with everything, instead of just building a sidewalk separately,” stated Behn.

Kamloops utilizes two ways to create shared multi-use pathways and bike-lanes, with city council sharing its preference for the quick-build model.

(image credit – City of Kamloops)

“I really like the quick-build infrastructure — not only because of costs, but because of timing. I think as community, we have got to take that next step up and this will allow us to do it at an expediate time,” added Councillor Kelly Hall.

There were multiple comments made regarding the Sixth Street bike lane being an albatross within the city and not wanting to following that path for future builds.

“Please, no more Sixths. I don’t think anyone wants to see another example like what happened on Sixth,” said Councillor Katie Neustaeter. “We want something that is usable. We want something that can be ready for our community as quickly as possible. And especially because of how sprawling we are, there is no realistic way we can put in that kind of path all over the city.”

There are five projects set to be completed over the next ten years, ranging from Brock and Tranquille to the downtown core around the future performing arts centre.

(image credit – City of Kamloops)

“Super important from a lot of aspects. That is where are Kamloops Centre for the Arts is going to be. We still need some type of protected and safe east-west corridor downtown, so looking at Seymour and updating St. Paul for that,” highlighted Behn.

Those discussions will also include whether to keep Seymour as a one-way street.

The next stage of public engagement will begin in April with open houses.