Replacing bike lane in south Edmonton to take longer than expected

Planning for new bike lanes on 106th Street south of the Whitemud may take a bit longer than expected, because the route has proved more complicated than other.

The painted bike lanes on 106th Street were removed last year after a public outcry over the danger of on-street lanes.

The lanes were to be replaced with a safer alternative.

Council had asked to have a proposal for the lane by the beginning of June, but what that new lane between Whitemud Drive and 34th Avenue should look like and where it should go still isn't clear.

Coun. Michael Walters said the stretch from Saskatchewan Drive to 34th Avenue has a lot of different uses, including school zones and commuter routes, that make design difficult.

"It's kind of a dog's breakfast, and it's really tricky to figure out," he said.

In a report released Thursday, city staff said designing alternative lanes for 40th Avenue, where lanes were removed at the same time as 106th Street, was much simpler.

Changes to the 106th Street route could affect school drop-off zones, parking space, and neighbourhood traffic.

Walters said the lane can't be mixed with traffic, it must be safe for people of all ages to use and the community needs to approve of the design.

More consultation needed

Daniel Vriend, urban transportation supervisor, said the public vision for the new lane is split between community lanes, that would connect people to local amenities like schools and rec centres, and commuter lanes to help suburbanites get downtown.

Walters said the two ideas shouldn't be mutually exclusive. He said if the entire network fits together, the lanes should allow people to get wherever they need to go.

"My kids are going to commute to their school, I could commute a little farther downtown, but it's the same facility, it's the same lane," Walters said.

Vriend said city staff are working to find a solution that will work for both uses.

The city hopes to have a finished concept plan in place by next spring.

Vriend said that's a reasonable amount of time to properly consult with the community and take into account some of the other construction taking place farther north on 106th Street.

Walters said there's no rush. He would rather the project be done right.

"I think we can take our time, really engage the community, do a good job and build something that's beautiful and that's beloved, as opposed to hated and maligned like the first try," he said.

The cost of the lane will be determined by the final design.