Edmonton council moves ahead with plan for paving back alleys

Edmonton city council is moving ahead with a strategy to pave back alleys similar to its approach for renewing neighbourhood roads, sidewalks and curbs.

"It's long overdue," said Mayor Don Iveson. "They're terrible."

Councillors voted Tuesday to go ahead with an alley renewal strategy that allows for a faster pace when repaving alleys that have earned a failing grade of "F."

Under the plan, the tax levy to property owners would increase by 0.1 per cent over four years, which for the average homeowner amounts to adding about $4 more to the tax bill each year,up to a maximum of $16 more annually, said Iveson.

This would begin in 2019 and continue through 2022 and raise about $20 million.

The tax would apply to all property owners, regardless of whether they have a back alley or not.

"It could take us a generation to do it, it's a huge,huge piece of work," said Iveson. "There's no time like the present to get started."

Edmonton has 1,175 kilometres of paved alleys, with about 70 per cent of them beyond the point of no return, said Coun. Andrew Knack. "We can't patch our way out of it," he said.

It's not just a matter of paving over existing roads or gravel, but involves putting in a proper road base before paving, added Knack.

Coun. Tony Caterinawas among thecouncillorswho argued for a higher tax rate so the work to improve more of the alleys in the poorest conditioncould be done more quickly.

He said his constituents are pleased that the city is going to address the state of its alleys.

Any work done in back alleys will have to be coordinated with other work that might be occurring in a neighbourhood, such as utilities, said Adam Laughlin, deputy city manager, infrastructure services.

The new alleys would be designed to handle heavy loads such as garbage trucks, he added.

A report with the cost details, and how to prioritize which alleys get done first, will come back to council in mid-2018.

• Edmonton urged to take a new view of back alleys