Consultation on the Active Transportation Fund and Strategy
Infrastructure Canada
Closed
2021-02-01
2021-04-27

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Overview

The Active Transportation Fund (ATF) is a national, merit-based contribution program intended to support projects that improve active transportation infrastructure across Canada. Announced in March 2021, the Fund will make available $400 million over five years to help build new and expanded networks of pathways, bike lanes, trails and pedestrian bridges, as well as support Active Transportation planning and stakeholder engagement activities.

By increasing the amount and quality of active transportation infrastructure, the Fund’s goal is to generate economic, environmental and social “Triple bottom line” benefits for Canadians. More specifically, the Fund seeks to:

  • Improve community connections and promote social equity amongst vulnerable Canadians;
  • Make travel by active transportation easier, more convenient and enjoyable, and enhance user safety and security;
  • Encourage people to choose active transportation over personal vehicles (including supporting walking and cycling to access transit);
  • Reduce GHG emissions in the transportation sector, supporting the goals of the Strengthened Climate Plan; and
  • Support the Canadian economy through a reduction in congestion, the creation of construction jobs and enhanced access via active transportation modes to businesses.

The Fund will also support Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy, which is being launched simultaneously with the Fund.

Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy

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Canada's National Active Transportation Strategy (PDF)

The HTML version will be available shortly.

Active Transportation Fund details

Please refer to the Applicant Guide for full details on the ATF, including information on eligible recipients, funding amounts and eligible costs.

Who can apply?

Eligible Recipients

Eligible Recipients are:

  • Municipal, local, and regional governments
  • Provincial and territorial governments (conditional on status of Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program allocations; see the Guide for more details.)
  • Public sector bodies, such as:
    • Municipally-owned corporations
    • Provincial or territorial organizations that deliver municipal services
    • Any other form of local governance that exists outside of municipality descriptions
  • Not-for-profit organizations

Eligible Indigenous Recipients

  • Indigenous Governing Bodies
  • Federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organizations whose mandate is to improve Indigenous outcomes, organizations serving Indigenous communities living in urban centres and First Nations living off reserve
  • Indigenous development corporations

Applications involving multiple organizations, or situations where an organization wishes to apply on behalf of another, may be eligible. Please see the Applicant Guide for additional details.

Ineligible Recipients

Individuals, private citizens, for-profit entities (with the exception of Indigenous for-profit entities), and federal entities (including federal Crown corporations) are ineligible.

What types of projects does the ATF support?

Funding is available for planning and design projects, as well as capital projects.

Planning Projects

Grants of up to $50,000 are available for successful applicants who wish to undertake planning, design or stakeholder engagement activities. Funding can cover up to 100% of eligible costs.

Capital Projects

Contributions are available for capital projects that build new or enhance existing active transportation infrastructure, or which provide ancillary features and facilities that promote active transportation or enhance user safety and security. The maximum program contribution rate from Canada is:

Municipal projects in provinces 

60%

Municipal projects in territories

75%

Projects in Indigenous communities

100%

Provincial assets

40%

Not-for-profit organizations applying on behalf of an eligible recipient would be funded at the contribution rate of that eligible recipient.

The Fund will allocate a minimum of 10% of the total funding envelope for Indigenous recipients.

Projects that would primarily benefit users of motorized passenger or commercial vehicles, as well as the purchase of non-fixed assets, such as bicycles for bicycle share systems, are ineligible for funding.

How are projects assessed?

Projects that are determined to be eligible will be evaluated against the following merit criteria:

Planning Projects

  • Identified need for the project
  • Project will be integrated into scope of existing planning documents or policies
  • Project viability

Capital Projects

  • Improved community connectivity and accessibility
  • Economic benefits
  • Environmental and climate benefits
  • Improved user mobility, safety and security
  • Project viability

Funding decisions will include consideration of project type and size as well as regional distribution.

Timelines

The application process for the ATF will open soon. Stay tuned.
Indigenous applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis and will be subject to continuous assessment.

How to apply

Before you begin

Applicants should first ensure they are an Eligible Recipient and that the project is an Eligible Project, as described in the Applicant Guide. The list of Eligible Expenditures and the Maximum Program Contributions should also be reviewed in order to determine the requested amount of funding.

Coming soon Applications will be accepted through Infrastructure Canada’s online and accessible Applicant Portal.

Active Transportation Fund applicant guide

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Active Transportation Fund applicant guide (PDF)

 

The HTML version will be available shortly.

Contact us

Active transportation general inbox: ATF-FTA@infc.gc.ca