The countdown is on to construct safe sidewalks for a new Langford elementary school opening in the fall.
Located on Latoria Road, opposite Klahanie Drive, SCIANEW STELITKEL Elementary School will accommodate 480 students when it opens its doors in September.
While building work is well on its ways to completion, construction has yet to start on sidewalks that will connect the school between Triangle Trail to Whimfield Terrace.
The lack of a safe route to school for pedestrians and cyclists has been an ongoing concern in the community.
The route was described as a “terrifying corridor” by Coun. Keith Yacucha in October last year, with worries also raised by Coun. Kimberley Guiry, who said she was “afraid” for children to walk the stretch of road.
But a safer route is on the horizon – hopefully in time for the school’s opening in September.
Funding for phase one of the Latoria Road sidewalk and bike lane project has been approved as part of the city’s 2025 budget.
And now the city has received a $1 million boost from the province’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Grant.
Plans are now moving forward to construct over 600 metres of sidewalk, including protected bike lanes, that connect to the new school, giving students safe, accessible routes to walk, run, or roll to class.
“The Latoria Road Active Transportation Project aligns with the council’s priorities to enhance transportation infrastructure and will provide a safe route to the new elementary school opening in September 2025,” said Mayor Scott Goodmanson. “With many families nearby and ineligible for bus services, this initiative will help reduce congestion during peak hours.”
The news has also been welcomed by Guiry, who urged council last October to approve funding for the project instead of waiting for the 2025 budget discussions – words that fell on deaf ears at the time.
"This is very exciting news and I’m so happy for our community and the future students of SCIANEW STELITKEL,” she said. “This is a great partnership with the province for achieving both of our active transportation goals as well as providing safe routes to school.
“We can achieve great things when multiple levels of government work together alongside school districts to meet the needs of a growing community.”
Announcing news of the $1M funding in a social media post Thursday (March 27), Langford-Highlands MLA Ravi Parmar described the sidewalk infill project as the ‘final missing piece of the puzzle’ for the new school.
“My hope is that the City of Langford will do everything in its power to streamline this project and ensure that we can have sidewalks right along Latoria built in time for the new school opening up this September,” he said.
