This footpath on Second Avenue W. between 28th Street and 29th Street is one of the highest priority areas in the city for new sidewalk, according to a report. (Alison Sandstrom/paNOW Staff)

By Alison Sandstrom

New path

City creates sidewalk plan

Aug 25, 2020 | 5:42 PM

An inventory of potential locations for new sidewalks paves the way for better connectivity and improved pedestrian safety in Prince Albert.

Though no funding has been allocated to the Sidewalk Connector Program yet, the comprehensive survey maps out a path for future construction of the walkways.

At Monday’s meeting councillors approved forwarding the list of potential new sidewalk locations to fall budget deliberations for consideration.

Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp, who kickstarted the city’s research into new areas for sidewalks in November, told paNOW aside from improving the look of the city, sidewalks are important for people using wheelchairs, walkers or pushing strollers with young children.

“If you’re using any of those things, sidewalks are very important for quality of life to be able to get from point A to point B,” she said.

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Top priority locations for new sidewalk and their cost. (Council agenda package/City of P.A)

Using a combination of satellite imagery and site visits, city administration identified areas around the city where regular foot traffic had created dirt trails. Councillors also suggested locations in their wards they believed would benefit from sidewalks. From an initial 17.7 km, city administration narrowed the list down to 29 potential sidewalk locations – totaling 5.2 km – and ranked them according to priority. City administration recommends council allocate $100,000 annually to the Sidewalk Connector Program. The estimated cost of completing the entire list is $1.6 million.

“The ones we want to do most are for safety, so that would be school zones or arterials,” surface works manager for the City of Prince Albert Marcel Gareau told paNOW.

He explained walking through grass, dirt or snow can increase risks of slips, trips and falls, particularly in poor weather.

Separate from the Sidewalk Connector Program, Prince Albert funds the repair and replacement existing sidewalks by $300,000 annually.

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alison.sandstrom@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @alisandstrom