Area B Active Transportation Network Plan
The Strathcona Regional District (SRD) is developing an Active Transportation Network Plan (ATNP) for Area B, Cortes Island. Our goal is to make it easier and safer for people to:
Key Benefits for the Community
- Better Health: Walking, biking, and other active ways of getting around help improve both physical and mental well-being.
- More Affordable Travel: Active transportation offers low-cost options to moving around the island.
- Cleaner Environment: Fewer car trips mean less pollution and better air quality for everyone.
- Stronger Connections: Safer routes help people of all ages and abilities stay connected to the places and people they care about.
We’re working to make it easier and safer for everyone to walk, bike, or roll to places like schools, parks, and shops by improving paths, crossings, and connections.
Get involved
Take the survey
In the first round of engagement, we heard about the challenges faced when trying to walk, cycle, and roll around Cortes Island, as well as ideas to make doing so a bit easier, safer, and more enjoyable. We’ve summarized your comments into a Background report and a What We Heard report, and are now seeking your input to prioritize potential projects.
Survey closes on Friday, January 16, 2026
Printed versions can be picked up or dropped off at the Friends of Cortes Island Resource Centre, located at: 983 Beasley Road, Manson’s Landing, Cortes Island
Alternatively, they can be mailed to:
Strathcona Regional District – Planning Services
990 Cedar Street
Campbell River, BC V9W 7Z8
Project Timeline
- Analysis of Existing Conditions – Summer 2025
- Round 1 Community Engagement – Summer 2025
- Round 1 survey open until August 1, 2025
- Pop-up event at the Mansons Landing Farmer’s Market – July 18, 2025
- Pop-up event at the Gorge Harbour Farmer’s Market – July 19, 2025
- Draft Active Transportation Plan – Winter 2025
- Round 2 Community Engagement – Winter 2025
- Final Plan – Winter 2025
- Adoption of the Plan – Spring 2026
Project Background
The Active Transportation Network Plan is a project led by the Strathcona Regional District to help people get around the island more easily. With funding from the Province of British Columbia’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Grants Program, part of the CleanBC strategy, the plan will support safer, more accessible ways to walk, bike, roll, and even paddle across Cortes Island.
Why This Matters
Cortes Island faces unique transportation challenges, including limited roads, ferry access, and spread-out communities. This plan will:
- Build on existing trails and natural routes
- Explore new ways of getting around, like shared pathways and paddle routes
- Reflect the needs and ideas of residents, visitors, and First Nations through past and current community engagement opportunities
What will the Active Transportation Plan deliver?
- A complete map of active transportation routes and amenities
- A prioritized list of projects to improve walking, biking, and rolling
- One high-priority project ready for construction
- A long-term strategy to support health, sustainability, and climate resilience
What is active transportation?
When you use your power to get from one place to another, you are travelling by ‘active transportation’. Active transportation includes walking, cycling, and rolling (e.g., wheelchairs, skateboards, scooters, strollers, rollerblades).
What is an active transportation network?
An active transportation network includes features such as sidewalks, shared pathways, stairs, and sometimes streets that have been made safer for walking and biking. These are all parts of the built environment that help people get around without a car—whether they’re walking, biking, or using a mobility device.
Key Documents
- 2025 What We Heard report
- 2025 Background report
- 2022 Active Transportation Conditions Report
- 2012 Official Community Plan
Questions about this project
Please contact Meredith Starkey, Manager, Planning and Parks | planning@srd.ca