New design guidelines to make Coquitlam streets more "friendly" for public transit riders, pedestrians and cyclists are now in the works.
At a council-in-committee meeting earlier this month, city staff said more than 80% of all trips by Coquitlam residents are taken by car - a number the city wants to cut by at least 10% over the next decade, especially with the Evergreen Line expected to open in 2016.
Under the plan, which has yet to be adopted by council, staff are suggesting some Coquitlam streets be narrowed for wider sidewalks, new crosswalks be painted, more trees be planted and street lights be installed to make "green" travelling easier.
Bill Susak, Coquitlam's general manager of engineering and public works, told the committee the design guidelines would also give clear direction to developers building subdivisions, for example.
Coquitlam has 460 km of roads and 500 km of sidewalks; another 140 km of sidewalks are planned through neighbourhood redevelopments, said Catherine Mohaniuk, Coquitlam's manager of transportation planning.
Coun. Linda Reimer cited the new multi-modal street upgrades along Poirier Street, saying the city has logged a few complaints from scooter and wheelchair users about telephone poles in the middle of the sidewalk. And Coun. Brent Asmundson said the "Welcome to Coquitlam" sign on the Clarke Road sidewalk also is hard to get around.
"We have to be more thoughtful" about placement, he told staff.
Coun. Terry O'Neill cautioned that Coquitlam is growing and narrower streets may cause more traffic tie-ups.
Other Coquitlam news:
WELCOME
Newcomers to Coquitlam and Canada can drop by city hall next week to learn more about the municipality's services and programs for residents.
For the second consecutive year, the city is hosting a Welcome to Coquitlam event, designed to showcase what's available for, among other things, recreation, animal adoption, employment and volunteer opportunities and emergency preparedness.
Residents can chat with a city councillor at 2:30 and 6:15 p.m. or hear from city managers about big projects happening in Coquitlam, including as road works and garbage/recycling pick-up. The library's bookmobile, an RCMP patrol car and fire truck parked outside for kids to explore.
The Oct. 3 event, which runs from 2:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Coquitlam city hall (3000 Guildford Way), is also a way for city staff to tailor the multicultural plan.
Last year's Welcome to Coquitlam drew nearly 300 people.
CURBING COSTS
Coquitlam homeowners who want a curb and gutter on their street will now pay 60% of the construction costs - a drop of 30%.
Last week, city council changed the cost-sharing formula for local area services (LAS) after city staff said only three such projects had been taken up over the past decade.
Mark Zaborniak, Coquitlam's manager of design and construction, said the high price tag for residents was a factor. "People have asked about it from time to time," he said at the Sept. 10 council-in-committee meeting. "When we have told them it's 90%, that usually ends the interest."
Under the the program, residents are required to petition their neighbours and, if at least half are willing to pay construction costs, the city takes a vote. Coquitlam policy calls for at least two-thirds of responding owners to agree for the project to proceed.
Zaborniak said such projects can improve the look of the road, lift property values and reduce street maintenance. And he said the city's LAS fund is now big enough to accept four projects a year.
Coun. Craig Hodge said while some homeowners feel the city should cough up for all infrastructure upgrades, the LAS is a good way for the municipality to cut costs and keep taxes low.
Coun. Selina Robinson said she was uncomfortable changing the cost-sharing formula since three neighbourhoods are now paying for 90% of their project but she said she also wants more residents to take up the initiative.
"Perhaps we can refund 15% to the previous three neighbourhoods," Mayor Richard Stewart suggested. "It may be a way to be seen as somewhat fair. It shows a measure of good faith to people who bought into it."
His recommendation wasn't included in the Sept. 17 council ratification.
