Deadline: 31-Dec-2026
The Active Transportation Grants support projects that promote human-powered mobility and improve safe, accessible, and connected transportation routes within Basin communities. The program helps local governments and Indigenous communities plan, design, and build active transportation systems that support walking, running, wheeling, and other non-motorized travel.
Funding may cover up to 50% of total project costs. Planning and design projects may receive up to $50,000, while approved infrastructure projects may receive up to $500,000 for physical works.
What are the Active Transportation Grants?
The Active Transportation Grants support projects that improve non-motorized transportation routes in Basin communities.
The grants are designed to help communities create safe, accessible, and connected routes for people who walk, run, wheel, cycle, or use other forms of human-powered mobility.
The program supports both early-stage planning and physical infrastructure development.
Main Purpose of the Grants
The main purpose of the grants is to strengthen active transportation networks across Basin communities.
The program aims to:
- Promote human-powered mobility
- Reduce emissions linked to travel
- Improve safe and accessible transportation routes
- Support healthier and more connected communities
- Strengthen local and regional transportation planning
- Improve connections between communities and existing routes
- Encourage walking, running, wheeling, and non-motorized transportation
Geographic Focus
The grants support projects within the Columbia Basin Trust region.
Eligible applicants must be local governments or Indigenous communities located within the Basin.
Funding Amount
Funding may cover up to 50% of total project costs.
Planning and Design Projects
Planning and design projects may receive up to $50,000.
This funding can support early-stage project development before construction or physical works begin.
Infrastructure Projects
Projects with completed planning and approvals may receive up to 50% of total project costs for physical works.
The maximum funding available for infrastructure projects is $500,000.
Who is Eligible?
Eligible applicants include:
- Local governments within the Columbia Basin Trust region
- Indigenous communities within the Columbia Basin Trust region
Societies and non-profit organisations are not eligible to apply under this program.
What Types of Projects Are Supported?
The program supports planning, design, and infrastructure projects that improve active transportation systems.
Eligible projects may include:
- Planning for active transportation routes
- Engineering designs
- Mapping
- Community consultation
- Indigenous consultation
- Environmental assessments
- Archaeological assessments
- New accessible multi-use paths
- Routes connecting communities
- Routes connecting to existing transportation networks
- Supporting amenities for active transportation users
Eligible Planning and Development Costs
Eligible planning and project development costs may include:
- Consultant fees
- Engineering designs
- Mapping
- Community consultation
- Indigenous consultation
- Environmental assessments
- Archaeological assessments
- Other project development activities directly connected to active transportation planning
Eligible Infrastructure Costs
Eligible infrastructure costs may include the creation of new accessible multi-use paths that connect communities or existing routes.
Supporting amenities may include:
- Bicycle locking stations
- Bicycle charging stations
- Bicycle repair stations
- Water stations
- Benches
- Lighting
- Wayfinding signs
- Trees
- Shade structures
- Climate adaptation features
Ineligible Projects and Costs
The program does not support all transportation or recreation projects.
Ineligible projects and costs include:
- Costs incurred before agreement approval
- Projects intended purely for beautification
- Projects intended purely for recreation
- Skateboarding trails
- Mountain bike trails
- Street-adjacent bicycle lanes
- Sidewalks
- Pathways not intended for public use
- Maintenance of existing active transportation infrastructure
Key Concepts Explained
Active Transportation
Active transportation refers to human-powered travel such as walking, running, cycling, wheeling, and other non-motorized ways of moving between places.
Multi-Use Path
A multi-use path is a public route designed for different users, such as pedestrians, cyclists, wheelchair users, and other non-motorized travellers.
Connectivity
Connectivity means linking communities, routes, services, destinations, and existing transportation systems so people can move safely and efficiently.
Climate Adaptation Features
Climate adaptation features help transportation infrastructure respond to changing climate conditions. Examples include trees, shade structures, and design elements that reduce heat or improve comfort.
Wayfinding
Wayfinding refers to signs, maps, markers, or visual guidance that help people navigate routes safely and easily.
How the Grant Works
Applicants may apply for support at different project stages.
Projects in early development may apply for planning and design funding.
Projects that already have planning and approvals completed may apply for infrastructure funding to support physical works.
All funded projects should improve active transportation access, safety, connectivity, and community benefit.
How to Apply
Applicants should prepare a clear proposal that explains the transportation need, project stage, community benefit, budget, and expected outcomes.
Suggested Application Steps
- Confirm that the applicant is a local government or Indigenous community in the Columbia Basin Trust region.
- Identify the active transportation need or route gap.
- Determine whether the project is at the planning and design stage or ready for infrastructure funding.
- Prepare a project description focused on safe, accessible, and connected routes.
- Develop a budget showing total project costs and the requested funding share.
- Confirm that the funding request does not exceed 50% of total project costs.
- For planning projects, ensure the request does not exceed $50,000.
- For infrastructure projects, ensure planning and approvals are completed and the request does not exceed $500,000.
- Identify eligible costs such as design, consultation, assessments, paths, or supporting amenities.
- Exclude ineligible costs such as maintenance, sidewalks, recreational trails, or costs incurred before agreement approval.
- Submit the application according to the program requirements.
Expected Results
Supported projects should improve active transportation access and community connectivity.
Expected results may include:
- Safer walking and wheeling routes
- Improved access to non-motorized transportation
- Better links between communities
- Stronger connections to existing routes
- Reduced reliance on vehicle travel
- Lower travel-related emissions
- Healthier and more active communities
- Improved accessibility for residents
- More climate-resilient route design
Why It Matters
Active transportation helps communities reduce emissions, improve health, and create safer local travel options.
Well-designed walking, wheeling, and non-motorized routes can connect residents to schools, services, workplaces, parks, and neighbouring communities.
By supporting both planning and infrastructure, the Active Transportation Grants help Basin communities create practical transportation networks that are accessible, connected, and environmentally responsible.
Tips for Strong Applications
A strong application should clearly show how the project improves active transportation connectivity and access.
Applicants should focus on:
- Clear transportation need
- Strong community benefit
- Safe and accessible route design
- Strong connection to existing routes or communities
- Realistic project budget
- Completed approvals for infrastructure projects
- Clear planning and consultation process
- Environmental and accessibility benefits
- Strong climate and emissions reduction rationale
- Practical implementation timeline
Applicants should avoid framing the project as recreation-only or beautification-only, as the program focuses on transportation outcomes.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Applicants should carefully review eligibility and project requirements before applying.
Common mistakes include:
- Applying as a society or non-profit organisation
- Requesting more than 50% of total project costs
- Requesting more than $50,000 for planning and design
- Requesting more than $500,000 for infrastructure
- Including costs incurred before agreement approval
- Proposing street-adjacent bicycle lanes or sidewalks
- Proposing skateboarding or mountain bike trails
- Applying for maintenance of existing infrastructure
- Proposing pathways not intended for public use
- Failing to show transportation connectivity benefits
FAQ
What are the Active Transportation Grants?
The grants support projects that promote human-powered mobility and improve safe, accessible, and connected transportation routes in Basin communities.
Who can apply?
Eligible applicants include local governments and Indigenous communities within the Columbia Basin Trust region.
Can non-profit organisations apply?
No. Societies and non-profit organisations are not eligible under this program.
How much funding is available for planning and design?
Planning and design projects may receive up to $50,000.
How much funding is available for infrastructure projects?
Infrastructure projects with completed planning and approvals may receive up to $500,000.
What percentage of project costs can be covered?
Funding may cover up to 50% of total project costs.
What types of projects are not eligible?
Ineligible projects include beautification-only projects, recreation-only trails, skateboarding or mountain bike trails, street-adjacent bicycle lanes, sidewalks, private-use pathways, and maintenance of existing infrastructure.
Conclusion
The Active Transportation Grants support local governments and Indigenous communities in creating safer, more accessible, and better-connected active transportation routes across Basin communities. With funding available for both planning and infrastructure, the program helps communities develop walking, running, wheeling, and non-motorized transportation systems that reduce emissions and improve connectivity.
Strong proposals will demonstrate clear transportation benefits, public accessibility, strong route connectivity, realistic budgets, and alignment with active transportation goals rather than recreation or beautification alone.
For more information, visit Columbia Basin Trust.
