Council Holds Off On Adopting Active Transportation Plan

Tuesday, February 08, 2011 03:53 AM

Prince George, B.C. - While several city councillors said they liked what they saw in an over-arching plan to link up the city's trails, bicycle paths, and sidewalks, the attached price tag put up a 'roadblock', at least for now...

The Active Transportation Plan recommends a financial commitment of $5-million dollars over the next 10-years, or $500-thousand annually towards capital improvements to the city's existing systems that encourage human-powered transportation. (click here, for previous story)

"There's a lot of incredible improvements that are being planned (in the ATP) for the urban infrastructure that's going to encourage more pedestrian-friendly, active transportation in the city, which is very, very exciting and definitely long overdue," said Councillor Debora Munoz. "We've been a community that has a very high per capita vehicle use, we tend to drive everywhere, so this is excellent news moving forward." However, Munoz said she had a concern with the high dollar amount proposed.

Councillor Dave Wilbur said, he too, liked what he saw, "This is a very ambitious and comprehensive plan and I applaud that, I think we need to know where we're going and this certainly sets out a map for us." He questioned staff about the potential for partnerships on some of the projects in the ATP. The City's Transportation Engineer, Glen Stanker, said, "There's ample opportunities for such cooperation." An example of a potential private partnership, he said, could be something like sponsoring bicycle racks in exchange for placing them on a City right-of-way.

Councillor Garth Frizzell said, "(The plan is) a good vision for the future and, with the cleaning of the airshed, I think we can see even more people interested in it."

In the end, though, councillors held off on a decision to adopt the ATP, instead, voting unanimously in favour of a motion by Munoz to have city staff report back on the plan's financial implications on the City's overall capital operating plan.

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Posted on Tuesday, February 08, 2011 03:53 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: seamutt on February 8 2011 9:06 AM

I wonder if its more about the financial implications for the PAC.

Posted by: Vulgar Sage on February 8 2011 12:35 PM

Build it and they will come...

Posted by: Eagleone on February 8 2011 10:23 PM

Good idea to build more trails in town... the problem is they take the highest cost option every time. The trails don't all need to be paved trails.. some could be just dirt track trails with minimal upkeep to keep them clear of brush at a minimal cost for far more value... it would grow their use and appreciation in the city and that would enable upgrades at later times to the more high end kind of trails they seem to always propose.

What I think would be world class would be a dirt track mountain biking-hiking kind of trail along Cranbrook hill ridge from the top of University Way through to Moores Meadow... spectacular views of the best parts of the city... PG looks world class from the vantage point of Cranbrook hill looking down 15th and 5th towards the downtown with the pulp mills and Rockey mountains in the far off distance... The 75-foot water falls in Ochakwin canyon are a hidden oasis in the summer... the 5th avenue canyon had some of the best mountain bike trails North of Whistler until the city went at them with chain saws... and even Blue Rock vantage point is world class... connect that to Moores Meadow and the River trails and one can experience the real Northern BC landscape in one afternoon outing...loop it back to the Otway trails and we would be the envy of outdoor naturalists everywhere. Built with a simple dirt track design with the exception of two bridges (the essential limiting factor) that would be needed, and this whole thing could be build for under a half million... I think it would change the outdoor culture in this city for the better, and bring more people out for some good old fashion exercise and community spirit. I think it would be so popular you could have a bike club house at UNBC trail head that could do well as a pub/bike rental outlet.

But its just common sense... the city ideas are about grand ideas that cost a million for a tunnel under a road that no one uses anyways. Maybe one day before I'm too old to walk anymore things will change in this city.

Any other city in the country with the natural advantages PG has would be showing them off to the world, rather than keeping it isolated and off limits.