Council Considers $5M For 10-Yr Active Transportation Plan

Monday, February 07, 2011 03:58 AM

Prince George, B.C. - City councillors will be asked to adopt an Active Transportation Plan that recommends investing $5-million dollars in the city's trail, cycle, and pedestrian networks over the next 10-years.

The city has spent an averge of $330-thousand dollar in each of the last five years on capital improvements to sidewalks, cycle and trail routes. Grants from senior governments have bolstered that figure by about $200K each year. The $500-thousand being recommended would come entirely from city coffers, with grants being sought to supplement the major projects in the ATP.

In 2008, the city received a grant to look at the existing systems in place for 'active transportation' - that's human-powered travel like walking, cycling, skating, and using mobility aids, as well as supporting systems like public transit.

While an executive report that goes before council tonight outlines major improvements to the city's infrastructure that have occurred over the past 12-years - things like over 100-km of new bike lanes, the pedestrian/cyclist underpass on Highway 16, and a re-vamped transit system that has doubled ridership - it also points to the need to develop an over-arching plan for the networks. "(T)here are a number of discontinuities and other impediments within and between these networks which limit the use of the city’s active transportation system."

Public input on a cohesive 'Active Transportation Plan' began with an open house last March, and continued through the spring with stakeholder meetings, a survey with 162 responses and additional input sought during the MyPG process. The initial draft went before council in July, more public input was sought over the remainder of the summer and council will consider the final report at this evening's meeting.

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Also, on the agenda this evening, representatives from the Prince George Golf and Curling Club will appear before councillors seeking support in ensuring the long-term sustainability of curling in the city.

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Posted on Monday, February 07, 2011 03:58 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: acrider54 on February 7 2011 6:37 AM

Better off putting most of that money in to our strees. Can't wait till spring.

Posted by: gus on February 7 2011 8:30 AM

"capital improvements to sidewalks"

I think the priority should be to make all existing sidewalks passable without obstructions such as utility poles as well as repaving those that have excessive crossfalls which render them dangerous.

No new infrastructure until that is done.

Posted by: He spoke on February 7 2011 9:11 AM

Gus, if we were to take out the cross fall on the sidewalk, than the public will start to complain about the water on the sidewalks.

Yes it is dangerous when the melting snow freezes on the sidewalk. The city does try to clear the sidewalk and sand them as well. They can come out and sand it all the time and keep it clear....but we pay enough taxes already.

Posted by: seamutt on February 7 2011 9:45 AM

Do not build new sidewalks with crossfall and those that are rebuilt eliminate the crossfall. Prince George is the only city where I have come across crossfall.

Crossfall makes the sidewalk awkward to walk on, push a buggy, just try a wheel chair. Take a look at the sidewalks going upto the university, very well worn path beside the sidewalk so lots of people don't even walk on the sidewalk. Those sidewalks are on a hill so why crossfall anyhow?

In the winter when crossfall sidewalks are slippery which they are most of the time very dangerous to walk on.
Water, what water, its that melt freeze which make slopped sidewalks next to useless. Hello city the thawing water freezes in plase that is why you see most people walking on the road.

Posted by: Denaljo on February 7 2011 10:54 AM

Simple solution to the ice! We just run underground heat pipes under all the sidewalks. All the energy needed could be supplied by all the political hot air and B.S. we will be inundated with very shortly.Until then; get over it we live in Prince George! We have more pressing problems like how much of a raise we should give city council. Or where we should build a $50 million art palace for the tens of people that would use it once a year.

Posted by: gamblor on February 7 2011 4:46 PM

PG is not centralized enough. People are fleeing downtown. "Active transport" is highly ineffective in suburbia hell. Yet another popsicle-stick bridge to nowhere.

Posted by: Palopu on February 7 2011 11:02 PM

Does *Active Transport* include kicking ass. If so we should get it started as soon as possible, and kick some of these dudes out of Government.