Coquitlam has tweaked its decade-old Master Trail Plan (MTP) and will keep on track to add another 35 km of trails and multi-use pathways over the next 20 years.
At Monday's council-in-committee, city managers unveiled the updated MTP, which will now be linked to the city's budget process as well as to neighbourhood plans and the Strategic Transportation Plan, said Kurt Houlden, Coquitlam's director of planning and infrastructure.
As well, the reworked MTP shows improvements to address privacy, safety, wildlife and watercourse protection, regional connections and costs.
Houlden said the city is busy on trails this and next year, with attention to the Mundy Park bike path, Coquitlam Crunch, Coquitlam River Recreation Trail System, Riverview Community Trail, Pipeline Road bike path and northeast Coquitlam neighbourhood trails.
As well, the city plans to issue a new guide for the public to enjoy Coquitlam's current 95 km of trails and multi-use pathways. And in the next five years, Houlden said, focus will also be paid to off-road cycling, the Maillardville Trail, the Laurentian Park multi-use trail and transit-station areas.
Park and trail work is typically funded through development costs charges.
Last year's Ipsos Reid Citizen survey showed that trails are the second most frequently used amenity after parks.
Coun. Brent Asmundson said Coquitlam needs to fill gaps in many sections to join trails not only within the municipality but to neighbouring cities, too. The MTP is "a living document," he said, adding the updated plan is "more streamlined and achievable."
