Plan for neighbourhood bikeway approved for two-wheel thoroughfare in Nelson
By Timothy Schafer
The city has backpedaled on its Neighbourhood Bikeway concept and has shifted gears into making the High Street corridor a triple ‘A’ bikeway.
City council repealed its earlier resolution to ease partway into the High Street corridor part of the city’s Neighbourhood Bikeway Conceptual Design, and instead have moved into making the road two way for motor vehicle traffic with traffic calming and shared use lanes.
The move was made to ensure that the initial phases of the bikeway project are in the triple ‘A’ echelon, said Coun. Rik Logtenberg, one of the primary forces behind bringing the motion back for consideration.
A triple ‘A’ bike infrastructure rating stands for safe, comfortable and “all ages and abilities” — which is the triple ‘A’ rating.
“We as a council are trying to achieve something pretty big … a shift across city,” he said.
“Getting this one right the first time and having the city come along with us is essential for the long term. However, having it triple ‘A’ is also very important.”
Other councilors agreed.
“We are creating a backbone within city that is safe and easier to get to and gets people through the city,” said Coun. Ketih Page. “We don’t want to be watering down those kinds of things right now. There is room for traffic but bikes are out primary focus.”
City manager Kevin Cormack said the city is still awaiting word on if it has received a major grant to fund the project, but it needed to be adaptable in any case.
“We want to get that route within the next five years … and not create major changes to the major circulation network,” he said.
The bike project needs to be completed by the end of the year, Cormack added, with the next phase to be detailed design.
“We need to get going and if we do get the funding we need to be shovel ready,” he said.
After the original motion was defeated, Coun. Britny Anderson added to the new resolution that city staff will monitor bike project along High Street corridor for one year to see if it achieves a triple ‘A’ rating or the corridor should be transitioned to a dedicated bike lane.
The High Street corridor will include two-way motor vehicle travel with traffic calming and shared use lanes, while the Third Street (option two) will include curb extensions. Nelson Avenue and Anderson Street intersection (option two) will employ the full access restriction.
However, the city will hold-off on detail design work and implementation of any of the design options approved until the results of the BC Active Transportation Grant application are received. Council had removed any budget money slated for the project in order to cover off the Covid-19 shortfall.
Cash crunch numbers
The city has submitted an application for the BC Active Transportation Grant, money that could potentially cover up to 70 per cent of the project costs.
However, no updates have been received on the state of the grant funding for 2020.
Next steps
What is next in implementation of the primary bike route project:
- wait for grant funding announcement;
- detailed engineering work; and
- initiate installation of bike facilities and sidewalk improvements.
— Source: City of Nelson
The cost of the circuit
In total, establishing the first segment of the city’s bike route network would be in the range of $500,000 to $600,000.
That money would provide a two-kilometre bike route connecting downtown with Fairview, and offer connection options to the bridge and Lakeside Park, as well as provide pedestrian improvements along Third Street.
If the project grant is approved, the city could receive funding of up to $420,000, with the city’s contribution in the range of $180,000.
Currently, the city has $28,000 in the active transportation reserve that will contribute to the project, and budget dollars earmarked for curb-letdowns throughout the city ($140,000) that could be used for the project.
“Essentially, the grant would allow the city to complete the work in this location at a substantial saving,” said Arcand.
A safe cycle
Other departments within the city were contacted to ensure the designs would not compromise other city operations.
Even though the proposed bike route will require changes in operations, no major barriers were identified, Arcand noted.
“The City Campground would be more impacted in a one-way scenario as it could create way-finding issues with tourists in the early days of the new configuration,” he said. Letters of endorsement have been received by the following:
- Nelson Fire and Rescue Services
- Nelson Transit
- Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructures
- Interior Health
- West Kootenay Cycling Coalition
- West Kootenay EcoSociety
Get the straight goods
In order to help generate some public feedback on the plan, mail-outs were sent to properties along the proposed corridors, while social media was used to invite impacted residents and the community as a whole.
The consultant’s report is available online for public review at www.nelson.ca/activetransportation.
