The Regional District of Central Okanagan is receiving $600,000 from the Federal Gas Tax strategic priorities fund to create a Regional Strategic Transportation Plan, which will be a key component of the Sustainable Transportation Partnership of the Central Okanagan.

It鈥檚 envisioned that the Regional Strategic Transportation Plan, which is an initiative on behalf of all local governments in the Central Okanagan, will tie together various elements of transportation planning from across the region.  In essence, it will become a blueprint outlining the goals and objectives for achieving the ideal regional transportation outcome for the Central Okanagan.

鈥淭his federal Gas Tax funding is incredible news for our region.  It鈥檒l go a long way in helping to improve our transportation system by identifying transportation needs, making our region more sustainable," said Regional Board Chair Gail Given. "This will help enhance the quality of life for all citizens in the Central Okanagan by better connecting our communities and will make it easier for residents to move from one part of the region to another.鈥�

It鈥檚 anticipated this project will begin in the fall 2016 and the plan will be completed by fall 2018.

The Regional District of Central Okanagan Strategic Transportation Plan is receiving $600,000 from the federal Gas Tax Fund. The STPCO is also contributing 1,050 hours to the project.  The total estimated cost of this project is $600,000.

This project is one of the 57 projects that are being funded through the Strategic Priorities Fund under the Federal Gas Tax Fund for 2016.

The Union of BC Municipalities administers the Federal Gas Tax Fund in British Columbia in partnership with the Government of Canada and the Province of British Columbia.

Each year, the Government of Canada provides over $253 million in indexed funding for local government infrastructure projects across British Columbia through the federal Gas Tax Fund. The funding can be spent on any eligible project the community prioritizes across a broad range of eligible project categories, or it can be pooled with other communities for regional projects, banked for later priorities or used to pay for financed projects.