Sundre council approved spending $25,000 on a pilot project that will create a safer place for pedestrians on Main Avenue.
As part of the pilot project, temporary barriers are going to be installed along the outside lanes on Main Avenue from Centre Street to 4th Street, creating a two-lane roadway.
The funding will be spent on hiring a consultant to create blueprints for the pilot project. Council approved the request from the Town of Sundre Corridor Enhancement Committee during the meeting on Sept. 2, but not without a debate.
Although all councillors voted in favour, some expressed concerns about the amount of funding that has already been provided to the committee, which was formed last year.
The committee was granted $23,075 in the 2014 budget to spend on new way-finding signage, as well as $10,000 for storefront improvements.
Coun. Tony Jordan said he was under the impression that there would be no more funding requests.
“I feel like I'm being roped by the neck and drug down the path like a mule,” Jordan said during the meeting.
“I've really got to know that we're going to see a light at the end of this tunnel.”
But Jonathan Allan, the town's economic development officer, told council that Alberta Transportation officials said they must have a pilot project in place before going through with any changes.
The town's chief administrative officer Dave Dubauskas said the blueprints would provide more specifics as to what needs to be changed on Main Avenue.
Committee members Alyssa Campkin and Leona Bennett were present at the meeting in support of the request.
“In order to meet the requirements of Alberta Transportation, and to be sure that the Town of Sundre does not marry itself permanently to any substantial changes which might not be in the best interest of the community, a pilot project is necessary to gather data on several variables,” Allan reported to council.
Once the plan is completed, council will have final approval before it is presented to Alberta Transportation. Allan says there is a possibility that it could be completed by the end of November.
Town officials are hosting a public information session regarding the project on Oct. 8, 5 to 7 p.m. at the community centre.
