The Adams Lake band and the Shuswap Trail Alliance (STA) are pursuing federal grant money for the final design and construction of the West Bay Connector Trail.
The STA is working with the band on a grant application for federal Active Transportation Infrastructure funding – the same source the band received $150,000 from in 2023 to undertake archaeological and environmental assessments and preliminary planning for the trail, which would run from Pierre's Point, along the shoreline of Shuswap Lake, to Salmon Arm where it would connect with the city's foreshore trail.
The new grant application is to secure funding for the West Bay Connector Trail detailed design and construction.
The grant request total will soon be determined through preliminary design process. STA executive director Jen Bellhouse guessed it could be upwards of $12 million.
To strengthen the application, the STA asked for the City of Salmon Arm's support in the form of a letter that includes a commitment of $500,000 of leveragable funding.
"When I did the applications for the planning grants for Adams Lake through the Active Transportation fund it was the same thing," Bellhouse explained to the Observer. "We were applying for 100 per cent of those portions of the project, but then we leveraged the funds the city already had in place because it just makes for a stronger application showing partnerships."
Council voted to support the request at its March 10 meeting. Responding to a letter from Bellhouse, city engineering and public works director Rob Niewenhuizen explained the city has more than $500,000 in a West Bay Connector Trail reserve. He said if the grant were successful and there is sufficient funds to move the project forward, "we would do the detailed design and then move to construction, so that would mean hiring a consultant to work on the detailed design and tendering it out for construction, and the consultant would act as the project management team for that construction."
Asked by Mayor Alan Harrison if he supported the request, Niewenhuizen said he thought it would be beneficial to the city.
"Any opportunity that we have to improve infrastructure within our region, and do it with federal funding rather than municipal funding, I think that’s an opportunity we can’t say no to…," commented Coun. Sylvia Lindgren.
Coun. Kevin Flynn also voiced support for the request.
"Knowing it’s earmarked for that, knowing and seeing the synergies that have been created with the North Okanagan Columbia Shuswap Rail Trail, working with First Nations and being very successful in getting grants for construction, I very much support this," said Flynn, noting the West Bay Connector Trail is "definitely about moving people in a safe and efficient manner and it will be a huge boon to our community and to tourism…"
The STA also asked that the city, as a partner in the project, would oversee project management aspects such as preparing the request for proposals, selecting the proponent and "ensuring project deliverables are met."
"Wouldn’t it be amazing if we could get that money," said Mayor Alan Harrison, noting the city has been working on this project for some time and that it is a collaboration with partners the Adams Lake and Neskonlith Bands, as well as the B.C. and federal governments and CPKC.
Harrison also shared his appreciation of Niewenhuisen and his willingness to manage the project.
"He has been doing that for some time and that’s why we’re at this point now," said Harrison. "Hopefully we’re going to be able to put our feet on that path sometime in the next few years and if we get this grant, we’re that much closer."
