On Monday, city councillors were tasked with deciding the future of Calgary’s downtown cycle track, and the majority voted to make it a permanent fixture.
The vote was 10-4 in favour of keeping the cycle track.
The bike lanes – separated from traffic by a physical barrier – were built 18 months ago as part of a $5.45 million pilot project. However, the City of Calgary says the project is $1.66 million under budget.
READ MORE: Calgary’s cycle track project under scrutiny after Manning Centre analysis
On Monday, council also voted city administration could spend the remaining money for improvements related to parking, loading, transit and traffic issues. Council said whatever was set up for the pilot project will remain and no additions will be added to any other cycle tracks.
“Some of the work that needs to take place on the cycle track network over the next couple of years includes making temporary traffic signals permanent and continuing to improve traffic operations and parking/loading access for businesses,” the City of Calgary said in a statement Monday night.
Cycle tracks currently exist on the below roads as part of the pilot project:
- 5 Street (on the east side from 3 Ave. S.W. to 17 Ave. S.W.)
- 12 Avenue (on the north side from 11 St. S.W. to 4 St. S.E.)
- 8 Avenue / 9 Avenue (on the north and south sides from 11 St. S.W. to 3 St. S.W. and Macleod Trail to 4 St. S.E.)
A final report on the project and results of an Ipsos survey were presented to councillors at city hall beginning on Dec. 8.
READ MORE: New parking spaces to offset spots lost to Calgary cycle track
With files from Global’s Erika Tucker and News Talk 770’s Cam Donavin
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