St. Julien Road Reconstruction Project to start with public engagement
Council approved starting public engagement on the St. Julien Road Reconstruction Project. The project, which has been on the books since 2006, will include complete reconstruction of the roadway, the addition of a path to run the full west side of the street, storm water drainage improvements, street light replacement, and landscaping.
The Town will ask for input from stakeholders, especially people living on St. Julien and adjacent streets, about design options this spring. Options include replacing the current roadway with the similar design and adding a sidewalk, or providing further enhancements of the new Streetscape Design Guidelines, such as wider multi-use paths. Other options for improving safety include turning Grizzly Street and Wolverine Street into one-way access from St. Julien, or completely closing these connections to the popular route to the Banff Centre. The Town will also seek input on potential improvements to the trail that connects Caribou Street to St. Julien Road.
A budget of $3.1 million was confirmed in 2012 for a reconstruction that replaces the current road with the same design as currently exists and a 1.5 metre sidewalk. This original budget would not include reconstruction road structure under the asphalt and it does not include deep trenching to replace sanitary sewer and water lines. This spring, geotechnical work will determine if reconstruction of the road structure is required due to water or stability/slope issues. An assessment of the sanitary sewer and water supply infrastructure – which are between 50 and 70 years old – will be conducted to determine if they need to be replaced. Total upgrades with the additional utility replacement, intersection improvements and enhancements for the new streetscape guidelines could raise the project cost to the $5 million range.
Public feedback will be provided to Council to help them select a final design for the project. Construction could begin in early 2021.
Streetscape Design Guidelines Adopted
Council adopted the Streetscape Design Guidelines as a planning document to help with street reconstruction projects in Banff. These guidelines will be applied to both municipal projects and private redevelopments so the Town’s transportation goals are reflected in the design. When streets are redeveloped, the guidelines identify features that would make Banff streets more accessible to multiple modes of transportation, such as pedestrians, strollers and cyclists, rather than being designed predominantly for vehicle traffic.
The Guidelines document identifies types of streets in Banff and suggests the optimal mix of transportation modes and landscape features for the types of streets. Designs are generic and represent the starting point for planning an individual project. Designs must be adjusted to fit the specific limitations and opportunities of each street when a redevelopment project is initiated.
As part of the guidelines, public input and communication is required for large-scale projects, such as complete road reconstruction, to ensure local knowledge and opinions are considered.
Study will look at Energy Savings at Wastewater Treatment Plant
Council approved a study that will explore using a combined heat and power generating system at the Wastewater Treatment Plant to save energy and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Powered by natural gas, a cogeneration unit generates electricity for the facility, while waste heat is recovered and used to heat the building. This process is up to 90% efficient. Should the study prove it will work at the treatment plant, greenhouse gas emissions could be reduced by 50% and energy costs reduced by 25%.
This is the first cogeneration study conducted by the Town, and could be used as a blueprint for other facilities. Funding for the $15,000 project is coming from the Environmental Reserve.