Conducting a study that would examine where in St. Albert an LRT line would run might be good long-term planning, but doing it now would be too long-term, council decided Monday night.
Despite Coun. Len Bracko’s third attempt since last October to convince the rest of council to spend $534,000 on a functional alignment study that would explain where the LRT would run should it ever pass through St. Albert, the motion was defeated 5-2. Bracko and Coun. Wes Brodhead voted in favour of the study.
“The time now is to move forward. Otherwise we’re making decisions with only half the information we need,” Bracko said.
While there is consensus that an LRT line running through St. Albert is as much as 20 years away, Bracko said he was compelled to again bring the study forward because the consultant had guaranteed the $534,000 cost for the remainder of the 2012 year.
“This keeps the price where it’s at,” Bracko said. “Everything’s been going up in price. The price would only go up if we don’t take advantage of this study.”
The study, which was first raised in October of last year, was also discussed and voted down during budget deliberations. While councillors applauded Bracko for his vision, commitment to bringing LRT to St. Albert and his long-term planning, most were uncomfortable conducting the study at this point.
“I appreciate Coun. Bracko’s steadfast support for the LRT, but I just don’t see the need to expend these funds today,” said Coun. Cam MacKay.
An issue for MacKay and Coun. Cathy Heron was the accounting Bracko proposed in his motion which stated the $278,000 would come from the LRT reserve and $256,000 from the next three years of LRT reserve funding
Chief financial officer Anita Ho said funding for the next three years would have to be drawn from other reserves, until the LRT reserve held a sufficient balance.
“I don’t like the fancy financing to get this done,” Heron said.
Mayor Nolan Crouse said he wanted to hear about approval of the south park and ride GreenTRIP funding and a potential second round of GreenTRIP funding from the provincial government before he could justify the functional alignment study.
“I feel like this is four or six months premature. I’d love to see proof our park and ride being approved,” Crouse said.
