The Active Transportation Fund (ATF) is now accepting funding applications. This fund, announced in the spring budget, has $400 million available for distribution. This money will be used to support both planning and capital projects related to active transportation. Applications are accepted for both short-term and long-term initiatives. The short-term initiatives are for projects that can be completed within two years, while the long-term initiatives are for projects that will take more than two years to complete.
The ATF is open to both provincial and municipal applications. This fund is one of the largest in Canada, and it will help support a wide range of active transportation projects. “For Canadians of all ages, ethnicities, abilities, genders, and backgrounds to be able to safely and conveniently access active transportation in their communities, and to increase the ‘modal share’ of active transportation significantly: the proportion of Canadians who regularly choose to use active transportation,” the strategy states. It lays forth a six-part framework – Awareness, Coordination, Targets, Investment, Value, and Experience (A-C-T-I-V-E) – critical to AT’s advancement in Canada.
The $400 million funds will be split into two streams to address the “Investment” part of the A-C-T-I-V-E structure, with around $12 million (3 percent of the total) earmarked for Planning and Design Projects (Grant Program) and the rest funds earmarked for Capital Projects (Contribution Program). Funding can pay up to 100% of the costs.
Applications for the ATF can be submitted through the Ontario government’s website. More information about the fund and how to apply can be found there. This is an excellent opportunity for municipalities and other organizations to fund active transportation projects. The ATF is a big pool of money, and it will be used to support a wide range of initiatives. If you are interested in applying for funding, be sure to check out the Ontario government’s website for more information.
What Is an Active Transportation Fund?
The movement of people or things powered by human exertion is called active transportation. The Active Transportation Fund (ATF) is a new fund announced in the spring budget. It has $400 million available for distribution, and this money will be used to support both planning and capital projects related to active transportation. Walking, cycling, and using human-powered or hybrid mobility aids such as wheelchairs, scooters, e-bikes, rollerblades, snowshoes, and cross-country skis, among other things, are examples of active transportation. The Active Transportation Fund will help fund Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy, which will be launched on July 28, 2021. Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy is the country’s first comprehensive effort to promote active transportation and its benefits from coast to coast.
Read More: Northern Ontario Travel Grant: Everything You Need To Know
Increasing the number of possibilities for Canadians to participate in active transportation has several advantages. Active transportation not only gets us from point A to point B, but it also improves our health and well-being along the way. It is critical to our economy and tourism industries and the development of integrated and consistent multimodal transportation systems that support more egalitarian, vibrant, and livable communities. In addition, it will lower healthcare expenditures, minimize noise pollution, and enhance air quality. Increasing active transportation will also help Canada respond to climate change by reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
In support of Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy, the first-ever Active Transportation Fund will invest $400 million over five years to assist a modal shift away from vehicles and toward active transportation. The Active Transportation Fund will assist active transportation planning and stakeholder engagement efforts and projects that establish new and extended networks of paths, bike lanes, trails, and pedestrian bridges.
Active transportation benefits communities by reducing family commute times, providing excellent middle-class employment, expanding the economy, encouraging healthier lifestyles, reducing air and noise pollution, and lowering greenhouse gas emissions.
This Grant Is Trying to Seek
· Support the Canadian economy by reducing traffic congestion, creating jobs, and improving access to companies via active transportation alternatives.
· Contribute to long-term, inclusive, and sustainable economic growth while laying the groundwork for a more inclusive Canada and net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.
· Improve vulnerable Canadians’ community connections and promote social equity.
· Encourage individuals to use public transportation instead of driving their cars (including supporting walking and cycling to access transit).
· Enhance user safety and security by making active transportation more accessible, convenient, and fun.
What Types of Initiatives Are Supported by the Active Transportation Fund?
There is funding available for both planning and capital initiatives. Indigenous grantees will receive a minimum of 10% of the overall funding amount from the Active Transportation Fund.
Project Planning: Successful applicants can receive up to $50,000 in grants to help with planning, design, or stakeholder engagement initiatives. Up to 100% of qualified costs may be covered through funding. In addition, 3% of the Active Transportation Fund has been set aside for planning projects.
Capital Projects: Capital projects that develop new or improve existing active transportation infrastructure, or provide ancillary features and amenities that promote active transportation or improve user safety and security, can get up to $50 million in funding.
Who Is Eligible Under this Fund?
The following projects are eligible under the Planning and Design stream:
1. Case studies, data collection projects, walkability, bike-ability mapping, and community audits/assessments are all examples of research.
2. Engagement and outreach to the public or stakeholders, as well as educational programs;
3. Policy formulation, including the creation of objectives and activities to be included in community land use and transportation plans;
4. Feasibility studies, business cases, and detailed costing estimates for a project or program’s design;
5. Projects promoted Canada’s national active transportation policy, such as events that raise awareness and encourage active transportation adoption.
Municipal, local, and regional governments; provincial and territorial governments; not-for-profit organizations; Indigenous Governing Bodies; and Indigenous development corporations, among others, are eligible for funding. The Active Transportation Fund website has a complete list of eligible recipients and other detailed information. Depending on the agency applying, funding applications will be accepted through a combination of timed intakes with specified open and close dates and ongoing intakes. Until March 31, 2022, Infrastructure Canada accepts submissions for both financing streams.
Who Is not Eligible for This Fund?
Projects that would primarily benefit users of motorized passenger or commercial vehicles and the acquisition of non-fixed assets like bicycles for bicycle share systems are not eligible for funding.
Individuals, private individuals, for-profit businesses (excluding Indigenous for-profit entities), and federal entities (including federal Crown corporations) cannot participate.
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