When it meets on Valentine's Day, Feb. 14, Dufferin County Council is expected to approve quickly an application for what might be described as "a sweetheart of a deal."

The application, recommended by the county's Public Works Committee on Monday, is for $1 million under a program called Municipal Infrastructure Improvement Initiative (MIII) - a variation of the previous RIII (Rural Infrastructure Improvement Initiative).

The funds, if approved, would be used to upgrade County Road 12 and provide bicycle lanes as far south as 20 Sideroad. The upgrading began at Highway 89, and is moving southward a mile or so each year. The $1 million would double the distance the county had already budgeted for this year.

The MIII program, unlike COMRIF (Canada Ontario Municipal Rural Infrastructure Fund), is a 100% provincial grant, and does not require matching contributions.

Apart from County 12, creation of bicycle lanes is a longterm project - and one that includes operational as well as capital considerations.

It might also be an initiative that makes county roads safer by widening them. Public Works Director Trevor Lewis said the bicycle lanes would be paved, although not of a standard to support ordinary vehicular traffic. The pavement on most county roads is 7.5 metres wide. The bicycle lanes would add 1.5 metres (almost five feet), creating a total width of nine metres (30 feet).

But the real purpose is related more to healthy lifestyles and recreation. Fred Knetsch, representing one group of bicycle enthusiasts at the committee, said in an interview that there's a long-term hope of having both destination routes and cycling "loops." Destinations could include such as provincial parks.

Groups of 20-30 already do ride circular routes on county roads, and the bicycle lanes would increase their safety. As cycling grows in popularity, Mr. Knetsch would like to see the Dufferin routes connect to other neighbouring ones.

Mr. Knetsch said Hockley Road and Airport road are among future considerations.

The cyclists would like the county to consider adding the lanes at the time of reconstructing its roads, rather than to invest in creating them as a separate project. He said County 12 was chosen as a starter because it was already being considered for reconstructing a couple of years ago.