Councillors defer decision on Queen St. changes

City council voted Monday night to delay a decision that could pour another $18 million into downtown Sault Ste. Marie.

Councillors were asked to provide approval in principle for a new conceptual design for Queen Street between Pim and Gore.

But opposition arose from Algoma Public Health and the Sault Trails Advocacy Committee, as well as some councillors who were upset that only $2 million of the money was slated for a much-needed road resurfacing.

The remaining $16 million was to be spent on new street lighting, furnishings, sidewalks, expensive soil cell systems intended to keep more downtown trees from dying, and other features described by Ward 5 Coun. Matthew Scott as a "vanity project."

Council voted to defer the decision until its next meeting on July 31.

The proposed design, developed by the city's engineering and planning staff, would have kept our main downtown drag as a one-way street, with two one-way lanes of westbound traffic and lane widths reduced from 3.55 metres to 3.3 metres.

But Bill Grawbarger, registered nurse who appeared on behalf of Algoma Public Health and the Sault Trails Advocacy Council, asked that consideration be given to having just one lane for motorized vehicles, with two-way bicycle lanes.

The deferral was suggested by Ward 3 Coun. Angela Caputo, who said she wanted to poll downtown merchants on whether they're willing to extend their hours to support the Queen Street improvements.