The city has requested $200,000 from the National Trails Coalition Grant. If that money is granted, the city will match the amount, as well as contribute staff time to survey, map, tender, communicate with the public and oversee contract administration.

The proposed trail system to be rebuilt is in the neighbourhood bounded by Erb Street, Northfield Drive, and Westmount and Erbsville roads. It’s anticipated that this funding will allow the city to improve at least five to seven kilometres of trail there.

These trails connect to places of employment, education, and commercial and retail opportunities, and their reconstruction will better link the community to the bus and future rapid-transit system. It’s one of Waterloo’s oldest and most heavily travelled trail systems, which is used for walking and cycling to the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and the uptown Waterloo businesses.

“Not only would this proposed trail reconstruction project improve a system of trails, it would also create many job opportunities for local labourers, truck drivers and heavy-equipment operators,” said David Smith, the city’s general manager of recreation and leisure services.

“These are people in Waterloo Region who are in need of employment at this time of economic uncertainty.”

This project is expected to be completed by March 31, 2010.