The money comes from Metrolinx’s BikeLinx program, which provides funding to municipalities in the GTA and Hamilton to “purchase and install permanent, secure and/or sheltered bicycle parking facilities, including bike lockers, in strategic locations,” according to the website of the Provincial transportation agency.

The Town says it is preparing to issue a Request For Proposals that will ask for both lockers and secure bicycle racks.

“We will probably consider both, but that is to be determined,” stated Tony D’Alessandro, the co-ordinator of transit for the Town.

The municipality has not yet finalized where it will put the bicycle infrastructure, nor how many bicycle parking spots the money will pay for.

However, both Hamilton and Burlington purchased similar infrastructure this year with Metrolinx funding at a cost of $1,000 for every bike parking spot.

By comparison, according to David Pritchard, advisor, investment strategy at Metrolinx, the cost to build vehicle parking is as follows:

Suburban surface parking: $4,400 per space ($2,200 construction plus $220 per year in operations costs over 10 years)

Suburban two-storey structure: $14,300 per space ($11,000 construction plus $330 per year in operations costs over 10 years)

Underground parking: $26,400 per space ($22,000 per space plus $440 per year in operations costs over 10 years)

It does not appear the Town will be installing the bike parking at the Milton GO Transit Station, which currently has 28 bicycle parking spots.

GO is currently in the midst of a pilot project providing reserved bicycle parking at the Hamilton and Burlington GO Stations. It is waiting to see how that project goes before expanding it, explained GO spokesperson Gillian Riddell.

Tim Foran can be reached at tforan@miltoncanadianchampion.com .