One Red Deer city councillor continues to fight the construction of a six-lane expressway through Red Deer.
Coun. Paul Harris said overall it’s a bad plan and nothing good will come out of the full build out of the proposed 20th Avenue expressway, part of the North Highway Connector linking Hwy 11A, Northland Drive, 20th Avenue and McKenzie Road.
On Monday night, Harris did not hold back his thoughts on the expressway that he said will cost the community in health, financial sustainability, land and money. Harris said the money should be spent on other priorities in Red Deer.
The eventual expressway is expected to be developed in phases, with two lanes over the next decade, four lanes in the next 20 years and potentially six lanes by 2040 depending on city growth.
“I believe what we talk about will become a reality,” said Harris.
“If we keep talking about six lanes, it will become six lanes. I don’t think 1980s thinking serves us in the 21st century.”
City manager Craig Curtis said he felt it somewhat offensive to suggest this is 1980s thinking but what he would suggest is that it took 30 years to get to this stage. Curtis said council will direct administration to build the lanes in a phased approach and would not build lanes that were not needed.
Harris said there has to be a better way to move people across the city in a timely way without the cost.
“I think we could create a free flowing traffic system on arterial roads using roundabouts keeping our traffic to a safe level,” said Harris. “We could reduce the design standards and still get people across the city in a timely way without the cost.”
Harris cited a University of British Columbia study that noted the relationship between the amount of money spent on roadways and property values in a community.
“Those property values will go down and as a result the property owners and the community will suffer because we will not have the tax revenue coming from those properties as well,” said Harris, noting concerns over speed limits and the cost.
Third-term Coun. Tara Veer said she shares concerns around cost and impact to adjacent residents but noted there has been significant investment into the plans including land acquisition and servicing.
“Out of respect for the tax dollars that have already been invested, I don’t think we’re necessarily presuming a six lane expressway in the future. I think what we are doing is keeping the road right of way option open for the future,” said Veer.
“In the interim it will be a two-lane until necessary. At that time, the council of the day will debate the budget and debate the speed limit. And those residents will have input. It also keeps it open for future trails if that’s the way Red Deer wants to do it.”
Coun. Cindy Jefferies said every time this issue comes up it seems a little controversial but plans must be worked on and approved at an early stage in order for them to come to fruition.
“I’d like to think of it as lanes that may come designated for public transit or perhaps in the distant future an area where light rail transit might go,” said Jefferies.
She said other cities have spent a lot of time and money planning around existing neighbourhoods to implement growth driven infrastructure.
Jefferies said they cannot predict the future but she does not want to restrict future options.
On Monday, council gave first reading to a number of planning documents including the East Hill Major Area Structure Plan that contains the right of way for the expressway. On June 10, city council will consider second and third reading of the Municipal Development Plan, the East Hill Major Area Structure Plan and the Land Use Bylaw.
In other council news:
• Roundabouts are now part of the plans to direct traffic at two key interactions in the city – 67th Street and 30th Avenue and at 40th Avenue and 78th Street Crescent. Council gave the green light to amendments to the Northland Drive/20th Avenue Functional Planning Study. The changes come after city council directed administration to explore different treatments at these two intersections last year.
Engineering Services Manager Frank Colosimo said a feasibility study showed that a roundabout works for capacity and improves safety in potential collisions and reduces land requirements compared to conventional intersections. In the case of 40th Avenue, Colosimo said a roundabout will accommodate turning movements of larger vehicles.
The roundabouts are proposed to be installed as the first phase of the North Highway Connector Project with a tentative timeline of 2016 to 2018 for the 40th and 78th Street Crescent and as early as 2014 for the intersection at 67th Street and 40th Avenue (subject to the approval of the 2014 capital budget).
• Council approved the 10-year Waste Management Master Plan as a planning tool. Janet Whitesell, Waste Management Superintendent, told council there was consultation over two months and 909 surveys were submitted for feedback. Whitesell said there was a lot of support for adding more plastics to the blue box program and expanding organic collection options. The plan contains a number of pilot projects including expanded organics and plastics collection and public spaces recycling. Whitesell said this year will be largely a foundational year.
crhyno@www.reddeeradvocate.com