Government is supporting a feasibility study that will identify how people can use sustainable transportation to better access the Pictou County Wellness Centre near New Glasgow.

Minister of Energy Andrew Younger announced today, Dec. 2, that government is providing $25,000 to the Municipality of Pictou County to conduct the study.

“Sustainable transportation is about choice, safety, health and helping reduce environmental impacts,” said Mr. Younger. “We’re pleased to contribute to half of the study.

“Helping find ways to provide sustainable transportation options for people who travel to the Pictou County Wellness Centre also complements the county’s recent efforts to make active living a way of life.”

There is a crosswalk with lights at an intersection near the centre but the municipality wants to determine how routes near the centre, including routes from a nearby business development park in Stellarton and the Westville Road commercial district in New Glasgow, can better accommodate people travelling on foot or by bike to the centre.

“The municipality’s vision for this study is to identify and provide safe and attractive active transportation corridors in the communities that connect to our Trans Canada Trail system and the Pictou County Bikeways Plan,” said Ronald Baillie, warden of the municipality.

The Pictou County Wellness Centre opened in 2012. It houses two ice surfaces, a walking track, community conference space and the Pictou County YMCA.

The study includes a public consultation and will be completed in March.

Source: Release