Wonowon Community Improvements

The feasibility study that was conducted by Urban Systems and the PRRD included:
 

• Distribution and review of residents’ survey.
• Discussions with the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure (MoTI) on their road design, templates and their maintenance expectations.
• Development of a trail concept plan.
• Development of concept sections for five different options.

 Options

• Road cross-sections to meet current MoTI standards.
• Trail placement relative to property lines.
• Lighting in three configurations: along street, intersections only and trail only lighting.

Operation and maintenance responsibility and considerations have been discussed with MoTI. Before design work goes ahead, it is essential to carefully consider the maintenance requirements of the infrastructure over the long term.

If residents are seriously considering paving the road or the trail, it is important to determine who will be maintaining the infrastructure, what the maintenance expectations are and who will be held accountable if maintenance does not meet these expectations. 

More information on this topic will be provided at follow-up meetings once the residents have narrowed down their choices.

Road Options

If road upgrades are completed: 

• The road becomes an asset owned by MoTI.
• MoTI will be responsible for ongoing maintenance. 
  • Includes snow clearing, pothole repair, crack sealing and resurfacing. 
  • Possible that the level of service will not meet resident expectations.
• Gravel Road Service
  • Residents may choose to complete some maintenance themselves (with an appropriate MoTI permit) to ensure a level of service.
• Asphalt Road Service
  • This kind of work would be difficult and costly for residents to do themselves.
• MoTI responsible for road resurfacing.
  • Possible that level of service will not meet resident expectations.  

Trail and Lighting Options

MoTI supports the idea of constructing a trail if construction doesn’t impact the road or drainage. 

If a new trail is completed:

• The trail becomes an asset owned by the PRRD.
• Residents are responsible for maintenance and replacement costs.
  • Includes snow clearing, grading, mowing around the trail, crack sealing, pothole maintenance, trail-lighting maintenance, inspection and eventual replacement.
• Residents are responsible for all costs for upgrades to street lighting and maintenance.
• Asphalt Trail Option
  • Will require specialized equipment and will be more costly for residents compared to a gravel surface. 

Proposed trail and road improvements in Wonowon have the potential to make the community safer and give area residents recreation options near their homes. Due to the length of the proposed road, trail and lighting upgrades, the potential costs are significant. If there is a desire from the community to construct a trail with lighting and for road upgrades, funding for the capital costs could come from a combination of funding options including:

Prior to any work on the proposed service, the PRRD would need to establish a benefitting area. A benefiting area is the identified geographic area around the proposed service where those rate payers included would have to agree to pay taxes towards the construction and/or maintenance of the new service. For this project, the proposed service area is the Wonowon Elementary School catchment area.