Edmonton bike lane project met with provincial opposition

Mrinali Anchan · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 17, 2025 9:07 PM EDT | Last Updated: 2 minutes ago

Tensions ran precocious during a municipality hallway gathering astatine the Killarney Community League successful northeast Edmonton, implicit a metropolis proposal to adhd much motorcycle lanes successful the area.

Close to 2 twelve radical gathered for the gathering connected Thursday — the aforesaid time that provincial Minister of Transportation and Economic Corridors Devin Dreeshen voiced his opposition to the city's program to grow motorcycle lanes.

"We'll beryllium talking astir astute infrastructure readying that doesn't sacrifice roadworthy functionality, due to the fact that astatine the extremity of the day, our roads request to enactment for everyone," wrote Dreeshen successful a missive to Ward tastawiyiniwak Coun. Karen Principe that was made nationalist connected Thursday.

"Alberta's presumption is simple. We enactment motorcycle lanes erstwhile they marque sense, but we volition not enactment taxation dollars being utilized to trim roadworthy capacity when we're trying to physique a roadworthy web that meets the increasing request each crossed the province." 

As portion of its renewal plans for 132 Avenue, the metropolis is exploring perchance creating 2 much motorcycle lanes betwixt 66th Street and 97th Street. 

Dreeshen said astir 7,000 vehicles use 132nd Avenue each day.  

Principe, whose ward includes 132nd Avenue, said during the municipality hallway she has received concerns from constituents on the simplification successful car lanes from 4 to 2 to accommodate much motorcycle lanes. 

"I'm blessed to perceive that the Alberta authorities would similar to collaborate and to guarantee that we're designing bully roadworthy function, making definite radical tin safely entree each the amenities they need," Principe said.  

Killarney resident Jeff Esteves voiced vexation during the town hall implicit what helium sees arsenic a deficiency of meaningful nationalist consultation from the city.

"I was progressive astatine meetings, nationalist consultations from Day 1, but I tin archer you that those consultations were benignant of held successful a mode wherever decisions had already been made," Esteves said. 

Esteves said he's opposed to adding motorcycle lanes to the renewal project. 

City assembly antecedently approved astir $100 cardinal to proceed with the progressive proscription web enlargement arsenic portion of the 2023-2026 budget.

The 132nd Avenue renewal task is successful its 3rd twelvemonth with existent enactment focusing on reconstruction and paving of the roads, removal and replacement of nationalist sidewalks, curbs, gutters and thoroughfare lighting.

The full renewal project, from Fort Road to 127th Street, is expected to instrumentality 5 years and beryllium completed successful autumn 2027. 

Concerns of provincial overstepping 

Other metropolis councillors who attended the municipality hallway expressed interest implicit the Alberta authorities wading into municipal matters. 

"Why didn't they say, 'Hey, we've got immoderate concerns'," said Coun. Aaron Paquette, who noted that the state brought their concerns to Principe, who past conveyed them to assembly astatine large. 

"Can we enactment it retired unneurotic successful a bully way, alternatively of this sabotage that, frankly, I think, mightiness beryllium a distraction from immoderate of the different problems that they're having successful the provincial level?"

Coun. Michael Janz told media helium feels the minister's missive is inappropriate.

"To person a provincial curate travel into 1 neighbourhood successful Edmonton and commencement making pronouncements of this effect is profoundly concerning and feels similar an egregious overreach," Janz said.

While the summation of motorcycle lanes has proven contentious across galore large cities, probe indicates that dedicated bike lanes are not down perceived postulation congestion and adding much lanes for cars will not trim congestion agelong term.

The YEG Bike Coalition released a letter connected Thursday opposing the province's stance against motorcycle lanes. 

"The YEG Bike Coalition powerfully opposes the state of Alberta's projected interference with the City of Edmonton's 132 Avenue collector renewal project, specifically the effort to region long-planned, community-supported motorcycle lanes and revert to a dangerous, outdated roadworthy design," the missive states. 

"Let's beryllium clear: 132 Avenue is simply a city-owned residential collector road. It's not portion of Alberta's provincial road system. The state does not money this project, nor does it support oregon run this roadway."