IT’S STILL some months before the city’s roadwork program gets underway but it’s already planning pavement and reconstruction projects.
This year, the provisional budget contains $254,000 for road overlays.
Council still needs to approve this item, but if it does so, the city says the new asphalt will most likely happen on the stretch of Eby St. in front of City Hall and the hill at the west end of Park Ave. rising to the residential section on the bench.
In terms of major paving jobs, the city is also eyeing another local service area agreement with Skeena St. on the Southside to add structure and pavement to what is currently a gravel road.
But for this job, which would cost $1,224,000, the residents of the street must first enter into a cost-sharing agreement with the city via a petition. There are a couple ways a service area agreement with residents can be framed with regards to the length of time they can have to pay the city back.
Transportation is also on the agenda for Wednesday, with a public open house happening in the downstairs of City Hall from 6 p.m.- 9 p.m., part of the city’s $75,000 Transportation Master Plan they are creating this year.
There will also be an online survey available to fill out on the city's website starting the next day.
This study will create a strategy for, among other things, coming up with a plan to improve traffic flow on the Bench at Lanfear and Kalum hills, where new housing development is adding traffic pressure. It will also include plans for active transportation.
Another driving-related initiative this year will be the parking study for which the city has budgeted $45,000.
“The study would help to identify pressure points and times when demands on parking were highest. This information will help with managing downtown parking in the future,” said city corporate administrator Alisa Thompson.