Corridor cash could fall into place

COEUR d'ALENE - Now that the conceptual plan is in place, financial support may follow.

Lake City Development Corp. will consider funding up to $50,000 for a topographic survey today that could be the first step in finalizing a plan for the proposed infrastructure improvements around the education corridor.

JUB Engineers recently wrapped up its conceptual design for an estimated $9 million in public improvements around the North Idaho College campus.

Should the survey be funded by the board, the firm could crunch curb, water and sewer lines for the project on the way to presenting a final project plan that could go out to bid.

"This is the first step," said Tony Berns, LCDC director. "They want to see if they can get the survey work done before the snow flies."

The urban renewal agency will consider funding the survey at 3:30 p.m. today at the Coeur d'Alene Area Chamber of Commerce.

JUB's recently completed conceptual plan calls for around one mile of expanded streets around the education corridor - namely a built-out Hubbard Street, Mullan Road and College Drive - bike lanes, traffic-calming roundabouts and two new signals, and a mile and a half of connecting bicycle paths to the Centennial Trial. It would include 350 deciduous trees and 100 coniferous trees, and lamps up and down the new streets.

If the plan is finalized over the next year, the blueprint would be ready to send out to bid in May, with the first phase of construction on the project possibly completed by early next fall.