A new report listing Burnaby's Top 10 most urgently needed sidewalks shows an "alarming" lack of sidewalk infrastructure, according to a city councillor.
Council approved the new prioritization plan at a meeting Feb. 25, based on metrics including proximity to schools, senior care homes, daycares, transit and more.
Staff will roll out the new sidewalks in order of priority, according to May Phang, general manager of engineering.
Burnaby's sidewalk priority projects
- Irmin Street-Nelson Elementary and Lyndhurst Elementary (2.1 total linear kilometres)
- Carleton-Madison-Triumph (3.7 km)
- Clinton Elementary (2 km)
- Burnaby North Secondary (2 km)
- Edmonds and John Knox Christian Elementary (2.1 km)
- Marlborough Elementary (2 km)
- South Slope Elementary (2 km)
- Kitchener Elementary (2 km)
- Harwood Park (2.1 km)
- Capitol Hill, Morley and Armstrong Elementary (2 km)
Staff also supplied a map showing six categories of various proposed sidewalk projects from lowest priority to highest priority.
The coloured lines on the map represent the areas where there are currently no sidewalks on both sides of the road.
Coun. Daniel Tetrault expressed concern about the lack of sidewalks.
“That, to me, is an alarming amount of area without sidewalks in the city,” Tetrault said, “And it shows you how important it is that we have sidewalks as a priority.”
He suggested advancing the Top 10 projects sooner rather than later and noted council would have further discussions throughout the budgeting process.
“We, for too long, were not investing in this important infrastructure,” Tetrault said.
He noted the evaluation metrics will help show residents how the city selects the priority projects.
The city will engage with residents living along the affected blocks during the planning and design phase.
Staff are also considering installing a temporary asphalt sidewalk near Nelson Elementary School, the city’s first priority project, as a temporary measure.
Coun. Maita Santiago noted how community members near Nelson Elementary invited staff and councillors to walk their neighbourhood to see “the urgent need that they have for sidewalks.”
Specific maps of the planned sidewalks can be found online.
