Four and a bit years ago the residents, community organizations, and public services of Prince George were encouraged to participate in gathering information about an overall vision for the City of Prince George.
The "My PG" campaign included aspects of culture, infrastructure, and community services. For the Cycling Club, we were most interested in the short and long term vision for cycling infrastructure. The most apparent needs with respect to transportation infrastructure were articulated in the follow up Active Transportation Plan, which city council adopted in in 2009. Within this ATP was an implementation agenda delineating projects of high priority to be completed within five years. We are approaching the expiration of the 5 year window for high priority projects and only a sparse number have been addressed.
We are realistic and realize that five years may be unrealistic for some projects and the budgets that support them. However, there are paving improvement projects scheduled to begin this spring that, in all aspects of intent and meaning of the Active Transportation Plan, ignore it. Once such project is the paving scheduled for North Nechako Road West of Foothills Blvd. The Cycling Club pointedly made note of this narrow and unsafe section of road for alternate transportation user groups.
Following the "My PG" consultation, the Active Transportation Plan acknowledged this section of road and included it in the plan under the "high priority" implementation phase. Fast forward to this spring and the Cycling Club and the residents of the area are fighting to be heard again about this section of road while councillors ignore the plans set out four years ago. Despite the city's explicit commitment, the current paving plan does not include bike lanes or a paved shoulder wide enough to allow traffic to safely pass walkers, cyclists, or other users. The paving and road improvements will go ahead and make a number residents happy given the deplorable state of the current route.
However, this letter serves to remind all of us of the time and thought we put into a consultative community project that we believed secured a commitment to a plan for an improving city. At best, current practice will reenforce the status quo for carbon-based transportation while we look for safe places to ride around Prince George with little thanks to the Active Transportation Plan.
Steve Wyer, PGCC President
Prince George
