An Active Transportation Plan is Underway in Merritt!
Merritt is currently in the process of developing an Active Transportation Plan. The City is conducting public consultations to ensure that the final plan is inclusive and forward-thinking. Their goal is to make Merritt more walkable, likeable, sustainable and dynamic!
During the second phase of Merritt’s Active Transportation Plan, a survey was conducted to understand existing conditions and opinions of the community members.
Here are some of their walking-related results:
75% said that driving was their main mode of transportation;
While 33% said that they use Merritt’s current trail network for recreational purposes regularly, 58% said that they never use the trail network for commuting;
Exercise and recreation were the most significant reasons for walking while commuting was the least significant;
Lack of trails and sidewalks dedicated to walkers was noted as a significant barrier;
Safety concerns such as poor lighting, sidewalk conditions, vehicle speed and intersection safety were also noted as prominent barriers;
The most significant area of Merritt where people would like to see active transportation improvements was the City Centre.
With Merritt being a small city in BC and many community members living in a suburban and rural setting, understanding current transportation methods and barriers are very important for implementing future active transportation improvements. Merritt is leading as a great example for what is possible when active transportation planning is prioritized!
Economic Recover Plans and Walking in Merritt
Merritt is in the process of creating an Economic Recovery Task Force and has outlined some project ideas related to walking:
Downtown Pedestrian Zone
The idea of having Quilchena, between Voght and Garcia, as foot traffic only each Wednesday during lunchtimes is currently being discussed. Pedestrian only traffic on Friday evenings/Saturday will also be brought forward as options.
Use of Street Parking for Patios
There are opportunities for street parking and plaza parking to be converted into temporary patios to make room for distance-friendly dining at local restaurants. If this temporary plan results in favourable responses, there may be an opportunity to make this a permanent plan.
