Greater Niagara Circle Route
The Basic Safe Trail
The Basic Safe Trail is the foundation upon which this final vision is based. It will be a three meter wide paved path suitable for safe walking, hiking, rollerblading and cycling. The intent is to enhance the trail after the initial creation of the "Basic Safe Trail." The Basic Safe Trail is an approximate $10,000,000 project begun in 1992. It will measure 44km from the Eastern Spit at the Lake Ontario entrance to the Welland Canal to Gravelly Bay on Lake Erie at the southern end. Another 30km of Basic Safe Trail, the Friendship Trail, connect Port Colborne to Fort Erie using the former CN Rail track bed. This then connects with the Niagara River Recreation Trail through Niagara Falls to Niagara-on-the-Lake and continues as the Waterfront Trail along Lakeshore Road back to St. Catharines. The Greater Niagara Circle Route is 150 kms in length. As of early 2008, the circle is complete except for about 4 kms between Townline Road and Four Mile Creek Road along Lakeshore Road in Niagara-on-the-Lake.
| Funding Source Approximate Costs |
Amount |
| The Region of Niagara | $4,300,000. |
| The Town of Fort Erie | $2,300,000. |
| The City of Port Colborne | $750,000. |
| The City of St. Catharines | $500,000. |
| The City of Thorold | $400,000. |
| The City of Welland | $450,000. |
| The Province of Ontario | $600,000. |
| The Government of Canada | $1,100,000. |
| The Private Sector | $200,000. |
| Total to Date | $10,600,000. |
