The city is looking to award preliminary design work for a safe pedestrian connection between Salmon Arm and neighbouring First Nations.
On the agenda for the Monday, Aug. 12 city council meeting are motions for consideration related to the West Bay Connector Trail, a project the city has been working towards for years with the Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands. For council's consideration is a budget amendment to reflect additional funding of $190,000 for the first phase of the project, with $10,000 from the Adams Lake band; $30,000, for a total of $50,000, from the Municipal & Regional District Tax program; and $150,000 in federal active transportation grant money received by the Adams Lake band for an environmental assessment and compensation plan, a traditional use and archaeological assessment and a site survey, terrain mapping engineering design, alignment and costing.
Along with the above, council is being asked to approve an award for preliminary design to ISL Engineering and Land Services Ltd. for $280,908 plus taxes. ISL's was one of six bids received through a request for proposals process. The city has another $125,000 allocated in its 2024 budget for the project.
"While there are many trails and connections throughout our communities, there currently is no direct connection for pedestrian/cyclist travel from the City downtown core to the north-western edge of the community," reads a city staff report. "The only available corridors for use are the shoulder of the Trans-Canada Highway, or along the edge of the CPKC Rail corridor. Neither one of these options are considered safe for frequent use by individuals or groups."
In January 2020, the city signed a memorandum of understanding with the Neskonlith and Adams Lake bands for the trail’s creation. The city and bands are partners in the West Bay Trail Working Group, which includes the Columbia Shuswap Regional District, Interior Health, CP Rail, the MLA, the MP, Province of BC, Switzmalph Cultural Society and the Shuswap Trail Alliance. At that time, more than 40 people had died along the railway tracks between Salmon Arm and lands to the west.
A Jan. 13, 2020, media release from the Shuswap Trail Alliance (STA) noted the signing was of particular significance to then Neskonlith Band Coun. Louis Thomas, who for the past 40 years has been advocating for the trail.
“To me, it’s about all the lives that were lost there…,” said Thomas. ” I see other benefits that come with it; originally it was about safety of people, and now I want people to enjoy what the delta has to offer, the loons, otters and ducks.”
Monday's meeting begins at 2:30 p.m. in city council chambers.
