This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes a call for photos of snow on roads, an invitation to provide input on several Edmonton playground renewals, and a survey about budget priorities in Leduc.
The Edmonton Bike Coalition wants your pictures of "sneckdowns," a snowy phenomenon that reveals road space that isn't being used by vehicles.
The term "sneckdown" originally described a neckdown, or curb extension, that is created by snow, but the definition has expanded to include any underutilized road space. "When snow falls and gets packed down, it highlights unused or excess road space that could be re-allocated for safer crossings, traffic calming, bike lanes, or wider sidewalks — often without impacting drivers at all," the coalition said in its newsletter. "In other words: snow becomes a free urban planner."
The coalition asks those out walking, biking, or rolling to snap pictures of sneckdowns and send them via email or by posting on social media with the hashtag #YEGSnowStories. Aaron Budnick, a volunteer with the coalition, told Taproot the photos will be used for public education and advocacy around street design. For example, when the city rebuilds roads through the neighbourhood renewal process, the coalition will use the photos to show specific locations where road space could be allocated to pedestrians.
The updated Complete Street Design Standards, which council approved in July, call for traffic-calming measures on all local and collector roads. The standards will be applied in new neighbourhoods and through renewal projects in established neighbourhoods. A report on the changes said it costs significantly more to install safety features after a street or road is built than to build them during initial construction. For example, a curb extension can cost up to $100,000 to install after a street is constructed, but as little as $9,500 if included in the initial design of the street.
A sneckdown can demonstrate how much space vehicles actually use. (WinterCity Edmonton)
Here are some other opportunities to provide input in the Edmonton metro region:
- March 6: The City of Edmonton is holding a meeting with the project team behind the Crestwood Arena playground renewal.
- March 7: The City of Edmonton is holding a meeting about the Duncan Innes Park playground renewal.
- March 9: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing to rezone a patch of urban reserve land for residential and recreational uses.
- March 10: Sturgeon County is holding a public hearing about a Morinville redistricting application.
- March 10: The City of Edmonton is holding a meeting with the project team behind the Carlisle Park playground renewal.
- Until March 11: Edmonton has launched a survey on renewal of the Beacon Heights neighbourhood, and will be holding a drop-in event on March 7 about the project.
- Until March 18: Parkland County has launched a survey on water and wastewater services to build a master plan.
- March 23: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing to rezone some land for residential and recreational purposes.
- Until March 27: Leduc County has launched its citizen satisfaction survey.
- Until March 29: Devon RCMP have issued a policing priorities survey.
- Until March 31: The City of Leduc has launched its annual budget planning and citizen satisfaction survey.
- Ongoing: The Town of Gibbons has opened a survey asking residents if Gibbons should remain a town or be dissolved into a Sturgeon County hamlet. This comes after the town's poor financial state came to light.
"Your turn" is Taproot's weekly collection of public engagement opportunities in the Edmonton region. Watch this space every Friday for opportunities to make your views known.