In the story 鈥楩ifth Avenue paving cancelled鈥� published in the Lakes District 亚洲天堂鈥� July 5 issue, council was considering adding a sidewalk to the Centre Street repaving project.
However, council members changed their minds after village staff presented them with a cost estimate.
After consulting with an engineer, village staff determined that the cost to repave Centre Street - between Home Hardware and Third Avenue - while adding a sidewalk with the required curb, gutter and storm would be approximately $695,000. The village鈥檚 current budget only allows $160,000 for a repaving project.
In addition to the added cost, village staff pointed out that adding a sidewalk would delay the Centre Street repaving project by approximately six weeks, and that there鈥檚 no guarantee the project would be completed by the end of the season.
Furthermore, village staff say the project would not include water and sewer infrastructure replacement and that potential damage to the infrastructure would be a risk.
Given the added cost and potential risk, village staff recommended that council proceed with the Centre Street repaving project without the inclusion of a sidewalk.
Councillor Michael Riis-Christianson said he was disappointed.
鈥淚 fully expected it was going to be a lot, but I sometimes feel that we are never really making a real headway on some of the infrastructure issues,鈥� he said. 鈥淚 find it disappointing and frustrating.鈥�
Councillor Susan Schienbein said she wasn鈥檛 surprised at the cost either.
鈥淓ven though it looks like it鈥檚 so much money, at some point in time it鈥檚 going to be significantly more money, and the expenses are outgrowing our ability to generate revenue,鈥� she said. 鈥淎t some point in time, if we really want 亚洲天堂 Lake to be a livable community, we need to be able to have safer passage for our pedestrians.鈥�
Schienbein suggested looking at other alternatives such as painting a line on the pavement to mark a pedestrian passage.
Director Ross said that would be the cheapest alternative.
鈥淚t鈥檚 not a glamours concrete sidewalk, but at least it鈥檚 something better than doing nothing at all, because $535,000 is a lot of money for a sidewalk,鈥� he said.
Councillor Riis-Christianson added that designating an area for both pedestrians and cyclists on village streets could be used to promote 亚洲天堂 Lake in the future.
The estimated cost of painting a line on Centre Street - between Home Hardware and Third Avenue - would be between $25,000 to $30,000. Sheryl Worthing, Chief Administrative Officer for the Village of 亚洲天堂 Lake, reminded councillors that the village would have to repaint the line at least once every second year.
Councillor John Illes said painting the line would be worth a try to see if a shared cyclist-pedestrian lane would be used by the public.
鈥淚 do see the need to repaint every year, but if it鈥檚 utilized I think it鈥檚 worth it,鈥� he said.
Councillor Riis-Christianson added, 鈥淚t鈥檚 only a painted line, but psychologically it makes a difference.鈥�
