City council has approved $4 million for a sidewalk renewal project as part of the city’s 2012 budget, responding to growing concerns about the state of Ottawa’s pedestrian infrastructure.
The main issue surrounding the budget was transportation. Mayor Jim Watson said because homeowners’ property taxes will increase 2.39 per cent this year, the city will see a “renaissance and revitalization” in roads, sidewalks and bridges.
“It’s not the sexy thing,” said Watson, but added that such vital infrastructure needs to be fixed.
Watson also noted that the new budget includes the lowest tax-rate increase in five years, saying that that is something he is proud of.
The 2012 budget, passed unanimously by city council last week, addresses “over 20 kilometres in sidewalk needs” through the renewal program,
Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes explained that the money will be available over a period of three years, about $1.3 million per year, adding that it’s “only to repair existing sidewalks.”
In Centretown, the sidewalk on Cooper Street between Cartier Street and Queen Elizabeth Driveway is a priority for renewal, she said.
Holmes said that because of the many kilometres of sidewalks that need repair in the city, $1.3-million a year amounts to “a drop in the bucket.”
In addition to the $4 million, the budget also allocates $750,000 to build two new sidewalks, neither in Centretown.
Holmes, who has been very vocal about pedestrian issues, held a “sidewalk summit” on Nov. 8, where she said that the city had been making plans to repair sidewalks for years.
“This is a good beginning,” Holmes said, but added that much more funding will be required in the future to fully address all of the city’s growing sidewalk problems.
In October, a pedestrian was injured in a car accident near Bronson and Sunnyside avenues, while earlier this month, two pedestrians were injured in an accident at Bronson and Slater.
In addition to the property tax increase, council also voted to increase OC Transpo fare rates by 2.5 per cent, as well as increase the price of the controversial U-PASS program from $145 to $180 per semester.
Watson indicated that the fare increase is expected to help with overcrowding issues on major bus routes.