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Active Transportation Fund - Capital Projects New!

Program Category: Sustainable Transportation, Climate Mitigation, Community Infrastructure
Program Sub-Category: Active Transportation
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Status: Open

Funder

Housing, Infrastructure and Communities Canada

Deadline Details

Applications are currently being accepted to the Capital Project stream of the Active Transportation Fund until February 26, 2025. Capital project applications from eligible Indigenous recipients are being accepted until April 9, 2025.

Funder Organization Type

  • Federal Government

The Active Transportation Fund (ATF) aims to advance the objectives of the Canada Public Transit Fund, and those embedded within Canada’s National Active Transportation Strategy, and Canada’s Strengthened Climate Plan. As such, the ATF will aim to support projects that:

  • Increase the use of active transportation relative to car travel and increase the use of public transit by supporting first and last kilometer connections to existing and planned infrastructure;

  • Increase affordability by providing economic value to communities and providing cheaper travel options over vehicular travel;

  • Support efforts to mitigate climate change and improve climate resilience by reducing road congestion and cutting air and noise pollution; and

  • Improve active transportation options for all, especially Indigenous People and equity-deserving groups to ensure people of all ages and abilities can access jobs and services.

Through supporting projects that will increase the total amount, usage, and quality of active transportation infrastructure throughout Canada, the ATF will support projects that encourage a modal shift away from cars and towards active transportation. 

The ATF program has two streams: planning projects and capital projects. The information on this page is for the capital projects stream. 

Eligible capital projects may include:

  • Building or enhancing infrastructure for active transportation, such as multi-use paths, sidewalks, footbridges, separated bicycle lanes, and connections to other roadways (this could include recreation trails provided they can also be used for transportation, i.e. connecting to destinations, services, or amenities);

  • Enhancing active transportation infrastructure, including design considerations in which there may be no net gain in kilometers of infrastructure, but include quality improvements that support greater usage;

  • Building or enhancing design features and facilities which promote active transportation, such as storage facilities, lighting, greenery, shade, and benches;

  • Building or enhancing safety features which promote active transportation, such as crosswalks, speed bumps, fences, and wayfinding signage.

Eligible Community

  • A municipal, local or regional government established by or under provincial or territorial statute;

  • A public sector body that is established by or under provincial or territorial statute or by regulation or is wholly owned by a province, territory, municipal or regional government, including, but not limited to:

    • Municipally-owned corporations (for example, autonomous organizations owned by municipalities, used to produce or deliver local public services outside the local bureaucracy);

    • A provincial or territorial organization that delivers municipal services (for example, public utilities, community health services, economic development bodies);

    • Any other form of local governance that exists outside of the municipality description (for example, local service districts);

 

Eligible Indigenous Recipients include:

  • Indigenous Governing Body*:

    • A band council within the meaning of Section 2 of the Indian Act;

    • A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government or authority established pursuant to a Self-Government Agreement or a Comprehensive Land Claim Agreement between His Majesty the King in right of Canada and an Indigenous people of Canada, that has been approved, given effect and declared valid by federal legislation;

    • A First Nation, Inuit or Métis government that are established by or under legislation whether federal, provincial or territorial that incorporates a governance structure;

  • A federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization whose primary purpose is to improve Indigenous outcomes; and

  • Indigenous development corporations**.

 

* “Indigenous governing body” means a council, government or other entity that is authorized to act on behalf of an Indigenous group, community or people that holds rights recognized and affirmed by section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982. “Indigenous peoples of Canada” has the meaning assigned by the definition aboriginal peoples of Canada in subsection 35(2) of the Constitution Act, 1982.

** Indigenous development corporations are normally set up by an Indigenous community/ organization/government. These corporations constitute the business/economic arm of Indigenous communities /governments and typically count the members of the community as their shareholders. Their primary role is to develop the economic activity of the Indigenous community that established them. Indigenous development corporations generally fall under two categories: for-profit and not-for-profit. The for-profit model however is unique in that profits are then re-invested in the community.

Funding Stacking Restrictions

Yes

Maximum Federal Contributions from all sources (up to)*

  • 60% for projects located in provinces
  • 75% for projects located in territories
  • 100% for projects located in Indigenous communities

* Excludes funding received from Canada Community Building Fund (CCBF), Canada Infrastructure Bank (CIB) or Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), from which eligible Federal Contributions are eligible up to 100%.

Other Eligible Applicants

Indigenous Economic Agencies
Indigenous Organizations
Non-governmental Organizations / Not-for-Profits
Economic Development Agencies

  • A provincial or territorial government;

  • A federally or provincially incorporated not-for-profit organization or charity.

Percentage of Project Funded

Maximum Program Contribution up to:

  • 60% for projects located in provinces
  • 75% for projects located in territories
  • 100% for projects located in Indigenous communities

Eligible Costs

Design
Planning
Capital Costs
Community Engagement
Staff Costs

Eligible expenditures are those considered to be direct and necessary for the successful implementation of an eligible project and excluding those explicitly identified in the Ineligible Costs section below.

Eligible expenditures for capital projects can include capital costs, design and planning costs, as well as costs related to meeting specific program requirements as outlined by HICC, including:

  • Expenditures directly associated with joint federal communication activities and with federal project signage;

  • Costs/expenditures incurred for consultation or engagement with Indigenous groups on the project*;

  • Expenditures incurred for accommodation of adverse impacts on Aboriginal and Treaty rights;

  • Incremental expenditures directly related to meeting specific program requirements, such as climate change and resiliency assessments; and

  • The costs of the eligible recipients' employees may be included as an eligible expenditure provided that the use of employees or equipment pertains solely to the implementation of the project, and:

    • There is a lack of private sector capacity to undertake the work; or,

    • The work involves project specific expertise, or proprietary or specialized infrastructure or equipment that requires specific knowledge or skill of the recipient's employees; or

    • A collective agreement requires the recipient to use their own unionized employees for certain project work.

 

 

Ineligible Costs

Any costs incurred prior to signing a funding agreement
Land Acquisition

  • Project costs incurred prior to project approval. Capital project costs incurred before project approval, except for expenditures associated with environmental assessments and Indigenous consultation;

  • Costs incurred for cancelled projects;

  • Expenditures related to purchasing land, buildings, and associated real estate and other fees;

  • Leasing land, buildings, and other facilities; leasing equipment other than equipment directly related to the construction of the project; real estate fees and related costs;

  • Any overhead costs, including salaries and other employment benefits of any employees of the eligible recipient or ultimate recipient, its direct or indirect administrative costs and more specifically its costs related to planning, engineering, architecture, supervision, management, and other activities normally carried out by its staff, with the following exceptions:

    • There is a lack of private sector capacity to undertake the work; or

    • The work involves project specific expertise, or proprietary or specialized infrastructure or equipment that requires specific knowledge or skill of the recipient’s employees; or

    • A collective agreement requires the recipient to use their own unionized employees for certain project work.

  • Financing charges, and loan interest payments, including those related to easements (for example, surveys);

  • Legal fees, except for in the instances specified in Eligible Expenditures above;

  • Principal and interest payments to the Canada Infrastructure Bank;

  • Any goods and services costs which are received through donations or in kind;

  • Provincial sales tax, goods and services tax, and harmonized sales tax for which the ultimate recipient is eligible for a rebate, and any other costs eligible for rebates;

  • Costs associated with operating expenses and regularly scheduled maintenance work are ineligible with the exception of:

    • essential capital equipment purchased at the onset of the construction/acquisition of the main asset and approved by Canada;

    • operating costs including staff training, salaries and benefits, fuel, maintenance, repairs, and insurance associated with pilot projects undertaken by Indigenous recipients or Indigenous benefitting organizations.

  • Cost related to furnishing and non-fixed assets which are not essential for the operation of the asset/project.