And that’s a wrap.
Debate over the approved last phase of Penticton’s lake-to-lake bike lane on South Main Street reached its climax in council chambers Tuesday, as local politicians got a look at the project’s final design and directed staff to apply for a grant to help fund the project.
The final section of the project — described during council’s meeting on Oct. 3 as “emotional” and “controversial”— was approved in March at a price tag of $2.3 million.
After hearing results from a public engagement program, council directed city staff to submit a grant application to the BC Active Transportation Fund for the final section of project.
Should the city be successful with both the provincial and federal programs, the combined grants would be just over $1.3 million of the estimated $2.3 million cost for the final section.
The South Main portion of the plan had already been given the green light and council was only prompted to receive the public’s feedback into record and to apply for the grant.
But that didn’t stop those around the council table from engaging in further debate, fuelled by concerns from the public over the pending installation of concrete curbs on both sides of the street and its potential impact on parking, as outlined in staff’s report.
Coun. James Miller suggested the project’s construction could be “sending the wrong message” to the public, as the community, like many in the province, continues to face challenges with healthcare, crime and the ongoing opioid crisis.
“I think South Main is just fine the way it is with the painted lines,” Miller said. “There’s definitely a lot of advantages (to the bike lane) but that is why I believe the vast majority of our efforts and money that we do have available should be going to those issues.”
Still, council directed staff to submit a grant application to the province’s transportation fund.
“It would be cutting off one’s nose to spite one’s face to not apply for a grant,” added Coun. Amelia Boultbee, who like Miller, voted against finishing the bike lane during council’s budget deliberations in March.
Construction of the bike lane along South Main Street represents the final stage of the city’s 6.7-kilometre lake-to-lake project, which first broke ground in 2021.
Boultbee also referenced a petition sent to council and staff, with 2,400 signatures in opposition to building concrete barriers.
Nearby residents of South Main Street and people who live elsewhere in Penticton both provided their input during staff’s engagement process, headlined by a feedback form completed by 513 people and open house this summer that was attended by 196 residents.
Aside from the “more controversial” concrete curb design feature, proposed changes like speed-limit reductions, the addition of pedestrian crosswalks and new left-turning lane onto Green Avenue were well received by the public.
Local business South Main Market and interest groups like BC Transit and the Penticton Fire Department were consulted before the project’s design was finalized.
City officials say a number of changes have been made to the design since public feedback was recorded, like the prevention of parking on the west side of South Main Street, north of Yorkton Avenue.
“I do acknowledge that it’s an emotional issue and I’ve asked for peace in the valley on this,” Miller said.
Drawings of the city’s plan on South Main Street could be viewed here.
READ MORE: Public opinion split on design for final phase of Penticton bike lane