The ACT Government is building the walking and cycling infrastructure our growing city needs by making it safer, accessible and more convenient.
This investment of more than $26 million is delivering a series of new upgrades and maintenance work to the ACT’s famous walking and cycling network.
These strategic network improvements support actions under Canberra’s first Active Travel Plan and proposed Cycling Network and Walking Maps which were released last year.
The ACT Government will also make significant investments in feasibility studies and designsto strengthen our future active travel network and make sure priorities reflect Canberran’s travel preferences and support the growth of our city.
Footpath maintenance
More than $5 million will boost additional maintenance in Canberra’s 3,190 kilometres strong path and cycle network. This is an increase in path maintenance funding, in addition to our existing path network repairs.
This program will fix safety hotspots identified by the community and our city services teams that have recently undertaken a comprehensive path audit inspection.
Lake Ginninderra path upgrades
The ACT Government is upgraded paths around Lake Ginninderra with $3 million invested to fund Stage 1 of works improve connections to the many playgrounds, picnic areas and parks located around the lake edge.
With the path network connecting these facilities, improvements include new connections, wider paths, better drainage, more lighting and seating. The first stage of the works will start near Emu Bank, following feasibility and consultation work which occurred in 2021.
Bowen Park to Kingston Foreshore
In Kingston $2.6 million is being invested to upgrades the shared path between Cunningham Street and Bowen Park.
This will improve safety for walkers and cyclists between the City and Queanbeyan including along Eastlake Parade and at the intersections with Printers Way and Cunningham Street.
Infill lighting and missing community path links
More than $1 million will be invested to fix missing links and gaps in the community path network where there is a need identified by the community. This will include investments in additional street lighting to promote safe and walkable neighbourhoods during all hours of the day.
Active Streets and School Safety
Students and parents in Canberra will benefit from a $2.4 million investment in supporting infrastructure to make the road and path network around our schools safer and easier to get around.
A package of designs are currently being developed to allow these improvements to be constructed and consulted on with school communities, including the following improvements:
- Three pedestrian crossings will be installed near Canberra High School in Macquarie.
- Two raised pedestrian crossing will be installed at St Mary MacKillop College in Isabella Plains.
- A raised pedestrian crossing will be installed near Gold Creek High School in Nicholls.
- A feasibility study will be prepared for a controlled pedestrian crossing on Canberra Avenue near St Edmund’s and St Clare’s Colleges in Griffith.
- The enhanced school crossing supervisor program will also continue at Canberra Grammar, Duffy Primary, Good Shepherd Primary, St Francis of Assisi Primary and Torrens Primary.
Garden City Cycle Route
We will invest $10.4 million to fund Stage 1 of the Garden City Cycle Route which will run through Watson, Downer, Hackett, Dickson, Ainslie and Braddon through to the city cycle loop on Bunda and Allara Street.
This project will better connect inner north suburbs on the eastern side of Northbourne Avenue to Canberra’s main cycling network which was part of the vision outlined in the City and Gateway Urban Design Framework. Following feasibility the path design will be consulted on with the community in the coming months.
The project is jointly funded with the Australian Government.
More active travel paths planned
In delivering this investment the ACT Government will also undertake studies and preliminary designs on other priorities identified in Canberra’s ‘Active Travel Plan’. $2.1 million will include funding for the following feasibility and design initiatives:
- Gungahlin Town Centre active travel upgrades
- Pop-up cycleways
- Marcus Clark Street/Rudd Street missing link C8 (principal) City Loop
- Lake Burley Griffin principal route upgrade
- Upgrade of C5 (principal) from Cotter Road to Mulley Street
- Melrose Drive main community route upgrade
- Athllon Drive/Parramatta Street priority crossings
- Miller Street priority crossing in O’Connor.
Priority communications for safety and education
To support these works the ACT Government will also invest $785,000 in communications activities to strengthen safety for vulnerable road users and the encourage uptake of active travel amongst school students and the broader community. This also includes campaigns to encourage behavior change and promote Canberra’s extensive public transport, walking and cycling networks. These programs are:
- Rethink your routine
- Ride or walk to school
- It’s your move safe cycle
Attributable to Chief Minister Andrew Barr:
This extensive investment in active travel infrastructure will support Canberra as sustainable city with streets that are built for people, by providing more ways for people of all ages to get safely get around our suburbs.
Canberra consistently ranks highly as one of Australia’s best destinations for cycling, and we know that by making the right investments now our city will benefit for decades to come.
Giving people more ways to get around, be it through major cycling routes between town centres and employment hubs, better access to local shopping centres or making it safer for students to walk to school benefits our entire community and improves our quality of life.
Attributable to Minister for Transport and City Services Chris Steel.
To encourage more Canberrans to walk and ride we are progressively building out our city’s path network so that it is better connected and well maintained.
This large package of infrastructure, planning and education is just the first part of delivering our Active Travel Plan to encourage more people to walk and ride more often.
The focus of these upgrades is providing safe infrastructure for walking and cycling, to make it more attractive to take up these sustainable forms of travel.
Every journey that Canberrans take on foot, by bike, skateboard or scooter helps make our city cleaner, healthier and less congested.
