Edmonton city council votes down money for businesses impacted by construction

With Stony Plain Road in Edmonton’s West End experiencing extended road closures due to LRT construction, some Edmonton city councillors are saying impacted businesses should receive money, while others don’t want to set a precedent. 

“Whether it’s neighbourhood renewal, whether the Yellowhead expansion on 50th Street, bridge overpass on 82 Avenue, I don’t think we have the financial capacity to do all of that,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

Edmonton’s mayor says the city can’t afford to compensate every single business that gets impacted by construction, as the city deals with an $88 million budget shortfall.

The company in charge of building the Valley Line West LRT expansion told media Monday, while construction is on schedule, a portion of Stony Plain Road will remain closed longer than expected for additional work. 

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That’s adding to the already mounting frustration from businesses in the area, many who have seen access to their businesses restricted due to heavy road construction. 

It comes at the same time as Edmonton city council voted down potentially funding a $250,000 pilot project that would be given to 100 businesses on Stony Plain Road most impacted by LRT construction to help offset losses. 

Mayor Sohi says $25,000 per business isn’t enough money to be meaningful, adding there are better ways to support them.

“I think the most meaningful way we can help businesses is to require construction companies to better manage construction projects by having better signage, access to businesses, managing those accesses in a timely way and not prolonging construction,” said Sohi.

Valley Line West LRT construction is happening largely in councillor Andrew Knack’s ward, and he brought forth the motion to consider the pilot project in the fall. 

He acknowledges there may not be an appetite on council to fund another project during tough budget times, but disagrees with the mayor, saying even a little funding can go a long way.

It might not be where we need to be, and I’ll be the first to argue this isn’t nearly where we need to be. But, better to take some action than to say, ‘Well this isn’t going to fix the problem, we’re not going to do anything at all,'” said Knack.