Canmore council has identified traffic, congestion and parking as issues for the downtown core and are looking to address them in the 2016 budget.
While there are no 2016 operational budget changes related to traffic, there are four capital projects next year that are proposed to help the situation, including a new set of traffic lights.
The capital budget includes $275,000 for installing traffic signals at Main Street and Eighth Avenue – the busy T-intersection that back up with traffic to the Bow River Bridge on occasion.
According to the project summary, a set of lights at that intersection was identified as an issue as far back as the 2001 transportation master plan and a signal warrant analysis was completed in September.
The analysis counted vehicles, pedestrians and cyclists over the September long weekend and the following week. While the weather was not particularly nice, the analysis indicated signals are required.
“The vehicle wait times were deemed acceptable, but because of high pedestrian and cyclist traffic, the intersection is considered to be complex and requires signalization,” stated the report. “In addition to being warranted, it is proposed that this signalization coincide with the proposed 2016 capital project – street improvements Bow Bridge Corridor. Transportation planning has been initiated on the Bow Bridge Corridor to ensure the proper design, placement and timing is selected for the signals that will fit with both interim and long-term improvements.”
The Bow Bridge Corridor project is $650,000 and proposes to examine the roadway from the Town Centre to the Nordic Centre turnoff and update it in accordance with the 2014 Integrated Transportation Master Plan.
The need for the set of lights and the overall project next year was discussed at budget committee. Mayor John Borrowman questioned whether or not the budget for the capital project should be funded from photo radar fine revenues. Those fine revenues are supposed to be spent on expenses related to policing or traffic safety initiatives and community safety initiatives.
“More and more as the (photo radar) reserve builds because people refuse to slow down, it becomes difficult to find projects that speak directly to that safety issue,” Borrowman said.
The Bow Bridge Corridor project will look at how to rehabilitate the roadway and underground utilities, increase capacity by adding more space for walking and cycling, “improve safety for all users, promote mode shift to walking, cycling and transit, improve wayfinding and create esthetic improvements where practical and budget allows,” states the project summary.
Actual changes to the roadway would take place over 10 years, with the work in 2016 proposed to be the first phase and include painted bike lanes and signage, as well as expanding the boat launch parking area.
There is also $100,000 to complete a parking strategy and $200,000 for continued programs and projects to improve cycling and pedestrian infrastructure in the budget.
When it comes to the parking strategy, Michael Fark, general manager of municipal infrastructure, said the municipality is working closely with the Downtown Business Association.
“We are trying to get buy-in from them in how we phase or stage the addition of parking and what it is tied to,” he said.
Those discussions, however, are longer term. For 2016, he said, administration is looking at “low-hanging fruit” when it comes to addressing parking, including additional angle parking.
While originally slated for 2017, Borrowman put forward a successful change to the budget to move a project that would add 20 stalls of parking to the downtown core to next year.
The project is to demolish a small house the municipality owns on Ninth Avenue adjacent to artsPlace and all-day parking areas. The demolition includes developing the site as parking.
The parking strategy will also examine time limits on parking in the downtown core as well as pay parking – however, any recommended changes to how parking is managed will return to council for approval.
Councillor Ed Russell said while he appreciates the involvement of downtown businesses, administration should also think about the public at large when planning parking improvements.
“I know we get pressure from the public, but it is not necessarily related or directed toward any parking need, it is a congestion issue,” Fark replied. “At the end of the day, we want a parking strategy that looks at all elements, including local transit.”
Fark said a proposed increase to snow and ice clearing budget amounts would add to the service area by removing more snow from roadways. There is a $45,000 increase for snow and ice clearing. Streets and Roads’ total proposed budget for contracts (snow and ice removal, street sweeping and line marking) is $608,260.
“This also forms part of the overall mode shift and transportation network the Town is taking,” he said.
By removing snow from curb to curb on primary routes and roads in Canmore, Fark said it would provide safer travelling for cyclists. There is also a proposed $15,000 for additional road sweeping in spring to rent a sweeper.
