Langford councillors have gently pumped the brakes on plans to construct a safe sidewalk on Latoria Road, ahead of the opening of the new elementary school in the fall of 2025.

As part of the City of LangfordB次元官网网址檚 Active Transportation Project, plans have been proposed to build a sidewalk along Latoria Road between Triangle Trail to Whimfield Terrace, at a total cost of $8.5 million.

The sidewalk project has been expedited in anticipation of next September's opening of Scianew Stelitkel Elementary School, which will be able to accommodate 480 students at the location on Latoria Road, opposite Klahanie Drive.

B次元官网网址淭here will be children on that road, IB次元官网网址檝e walked it, and IB次元官网网址檓 afraid for them,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Kimberley Guiry at a meeting on Oct. 21.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 a terrifying corridor,B次元官网网址� added Coun. Keith Yacucha. B次元官网网址淚f that corridor terrifies me, I canB次元官网网址檛 imagine how terrifying it would be to send my child down it, or as a child to go down it.B次元官网网址�

But the B次元官网网址渢errifyingB次元官网网址� nature of the road wasnB次元官网网址檛 enough for the majority of council to give their full support for the project, instead choosing to support a motion to only move forward with sidewalk construction if funding is approved in the cityB次元官网网址檚 upcoming budget discussions, which will be determined in late February or early March 2025.

B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 really struggling to make this commitment right now B次元官网网址� even though it is desperately needed B次元官网网址� given the weight of the budget I anticipate we will have to discuss in coming weeks,B次元官网网址� said Coun. Colby Harder.

According to Katelyn Balzer, director of engineering and public works, the city has been advised they should go to tender for the project in January 2025, to give the best chance of completion by September. 

B次元官网网址淚t is a bit of a compromise that is potentially postponing this a little bit, putting it at risk of not being completed in time for the school year,B次元官网网址� said Yacucha.

B次元官网网址淚 deeply regret it,B次元官网网址� added Harder. B次元官网网址淏ut I struggle to see all the tools that we have to make that happen, given the other decisions that we have to make.B次元官网网址�

The B次元官网网址渃ompromiseB次元官网网址� wasnB次元官网网址檛 welcomed by Guiry, who had encouraged councillors to not B次元官网网址渂alk at a price tagB次元官网网址� when discussing the safety of school children, and commit to the project.

B次元官网网址淭his has just delayed the conversation and provided a barrier to getting the project done on time,B次元官网网址� she said.

At the meeting, councillors voted in favour of asking staff to prepare a tender document for the Latoria Road project, so it can be ready to go in the event of budget approval in the 2025-2029 five-year financial plan.

City staff will also apply for $1 million to support the project from the B.C. Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant program.

It is hoped construction of the Latoria Road sidewalk can be done alongside Capital Regional District plans for utility upgrades on the street, which will offer B次元官网网址渃ost-saving opportunities.B次元官网网址�