REGINA — As the City of Regina looks at ways to reduce its carbon footprint, concrete is an option to consider in the future.
Previously, city council directed administration to explore the impacts of reducing poured concrete use for transportation assets, as outlined in a report at Wednesday’s executive committee meeting.
In its report, the city outlined two options. The first is analyzing how alternative materials to concrete would fare.
For the most part, alternative materials would have a positive impact on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduce the risk of head-on collisions with higher medians, according to the report.
On the flip side, different materials could be more expensive than concrete, depending on upfront cost and availability.
Additionally, concrete sidewalks are the preferred surface for accessibility, as their smooth and durable design is well-suited for people with mobility challenges, including wheelchair users, those using walkers and parents with strollers.
The other option explored was removing 20 per cent of the concrete assets when they are at the end of life in the city, including sidewalks, medians, concrete curbs and gutters.
The report states this would decrease accessibility, resulting in a disjointed pedestrian network and creating traffic safety concerns, including for people walking on streets.
However, the removal of medians could open up bike lane options, reduce GHG emissions and save the city money on upfront costs for asphalt or natural vegetation, but those would require more maintenance.
Ward 9 Coun. Jason Mancinelli, who originally asked for the report, said he wanted to look at how the city would function with fewer overall sidewalks, reflecting the northwest region of Regina.
“What I was hoping to find out is, instead of pouring two sidewalks in the centre of the city, which was built that way in 1932, could we match the planning and format of the outer edges of the city?”
By reducing hundreds of kilometres of city sidewalks, Mancinelli wondered if the saved money could be directed to cleanup and roadway efforts.
Deborah Bryden, deputy city manager of city planning and community development, said the issue is complex because the city has to consider accessibility, Vision Zero safety goals, existing neighbourhoods and future development plans when deciding how transportation infrastructure should be built or improved.
Encompassing all these factors, Bryden said it’s hard to put a dollar amount on the work.
In the near future, the city plans to release a street framework, which will take into account sidewalks, roads and other infrastructure for new developments.
