There may be hope on the horizon for pedestrians and cyclists navigating Lougheed Highway near Riverview Hospital in Coquitlam.
The city will ask the provincial government if it may cut through the hospital grounds to build a multi-use pathway to link Colony Farm Road with Orchid Drive.
Currently, that section of the highway is "the most challenging area" in the city for cyclists, with its narrow shoulders and speeding traffic, Bill Susak, Coquitlam's general manager of public works, said at Monday's engineering committee.
Under its "preferred route," the $4-million Riverview path would be 2,880 m long and would have acceptable grades for pedestrians and cyclists, according to a report released this week. It would travel through the arboretum, existing parking lots and loading areas near vacant buildings before reaching Sorrel Street and, later on, Orchid Drive.
Heritage trees would not be affected, said Catherine Mohoruk, Coquitlam's manager of transportation planning.
"It's a good route, it's a doable route," said Coun. Brent Asmundson, the engineering committee chair, noting the provincial government should be open to the idea given its push to reduce greenhouse gases in B.C.
Coun. Mae Reid, land use committee chair, said city taxpayers shouldn't be on the hook to pay for the Riverview land to build the path. "It's about time the government steps up for something," she said.
Two other routes are also being considered: the alignment over the Greater Vancouver Sewer and Drainage District right of way, which bisects the Riverview grounds and would cost $4.7 million to construct; and the Sheep Paddock Trail/CP Rail right of way, on the east side of Lougheed Highway, which would cost about $5.9 million to build over environmentally sensitive and flood-prone areas.
A consultant studied the potential routes with regulatory agencies and stakeholders, including the Accommodation and Real Estate Service (ARES), which oversees Riverview Hospital, the city of Port Coquitlam, Fisheries and Oceans Canada and CP Rail.
