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 Langford’s 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.
“There will be children on that road, I’ve walked it, and I’m afraid for them,” said Coun. Kimberley Guiry at a meeting on Oct. 21.
“It’s a terrifying corridor,” added Coun. Keith Yacucha. “If that corridor terrifies me, I can’t imagine how terrifying it would be to send my child down it, or as a child to go down it.”
But the “terrifying” nature of the road wasn’t 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 city’s upcoming budget discussions, which will be determined in late February or early March 2025.
“I’m really struggling to make this commitment right now – even though it is desperately needed – given the weight of the budget I anticipate we will have to discuss in coming weeks,” 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.
“It 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,” said Yacucha.
“I deeply regret it,” added Harder. “But I struggle to see all the tools that we have to make that happen, given the other decisions that we have to make.”
The “compromise” wasn’t welcomed by Guiry, who had encouraged councillors to not “balk at a price tag” when discussing the safety of school children, and commit to the project.
“This has just delayed the conversation and provided a barrier to getting the project done on time,” 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 “cost-saving opportunities.”