Bike lane talk to continue

Charlottetown city council is expected to meet again in the coming week to discuss the proposed bike lane on Fitzroy Street.

Council met with some community groups in private prior to the last monthly public meeting.

However, Coun. Terry MacLeod, chairman of the environment and sustainability committee, said council felt it didn’t have enough time to mull the matter over in order to make a final decision at the monthly meeting.

“We ran out of time before the public meeting so I think there’s another meeting this week coming up,’’ MacLeod said.

A designated two-way bike lane on Fitzroy Street would cost about $1 million with the city covering half the cost and the federal government handling the other half through the municipal strategic component of the gas tax fund.

The bike lane project is listed in the city’s capital budget for 2019 but it’s no guarantee the project moves ahead.

The city has been giving some thought to a plan B, as in what it could do with the $500,000 from the feds if council decides not to pursue the bike lane idea.

If the bike lane doesn’t proceed, the city will have to give back the federal money and reapply for it.

While the bike lane project falls under the environment and sustainability committee, MacLeod said the matter rests with council at this point.