Merritt is getting back on track with plans to revive a multi-use trail connecting downtown to Gasoline Alley.

For the past few years, the city has been trying to establish a multi-use trail that would go up Voght Street, connect to Spring Bank Avenue and branch off to River Ranch Road.

That potential route was halted when a land owner along the route wouldn’t allow necessary access through their property.

However, as planning department manager Sean O’Flaherty told council at its budget meeting on Feb. 11, that may have been a blessing in disguise.

The city is now looking into the possibility of having the trail run parallel to Voght Street along its south side, which would be a shorter route and provide better visibility, he said.

At this time, the cost to build the trail is unknown, but the city has $25,000 in this year’s budget for such initiatives, and BC Hydro plans to commit some further funding, O’Flaherty said.

If the city has enough funding, it’s possible the project could break ground this year, he said.

There are just two of these multi-use paths in the community — one along the Coldwater River and another at Rotary Park, O’Flaherty said.

This new trail would consist of a two-metre-wide asphalt trail that would eventually span from Lions Memorial Park to River Ranch Road.

The first phase would span from River Ranch Road to Grimmett Street.

In 2016, the City of Merritt plans to spend about $500,000 to renovate the corner route of Voght Street that passes by Rotary Park from Lions Memorial Park in front of Central Park.

This roadwork would also consist of phase two for the Voght Street trail project, O’Flaherty said.

Phase three of the Voght Street trail project would consist of the stretch of Voght Street between Blackwell Avenue and Grimmett Street.

O’Flaherty said the sidewalk along Voght Street is inadequate as it doesn’t meet engineering standards as it is narrow and made of asphalt, not concrete.

“We need something more functional and safer,” O’Flaherty said.

The city also has plans to incorporate bike lanes on either side of Coldwater Avenue from Main Street to the end of Clapperton Avenue, but that is dependent on whether or not the public works department receives a grant that will help them afford roadwork on that stretch of Coldwater Avenue.

General budget maintains status quo

This year’s general government budget — which covers the operations of city hall — will see a decrease of about $13,000 compared to last year.

Financial services manager Ken Ostraat said the reason for the savings is two-fold: there are no byelection and general election costs for 2015 or funding set aside to recruit a new chief administrative officer.

One of the budgeted items is $50,000 to make renovations to the reception area of city hall that will include new cashier windows and workstations.

The city will also spend another $54,000 this year to replace some computers and upgrade software.