City council is being asked to approve service level changes for two popular pedestrian paths.

Administration is recommending snow removal be approved for the lower escarpment paved path between Ogilvie Street and Lambert Street.

Also recommended are increased service levels for the gravel road that is used as a trail between Granger and Hillcrest.

“The city has received numerous requests from winter commuters asking for additional active transportation routes to be established and maintained in the winter months,” says the administrative recommendation to council.

The two paths being recommended are existing city assets.

“Administration anticipates exponential winter use increases and active transportation in these areas should snow removal service be established,” says the recommendation.

“The operating impact to increasing the level of service to these two commuting routes has been assessed by administration and can be absorbed with existing budgets.”

Council is scheduled to vote on the proposed service level changes at its meeting next Monday.

The administrative report notes the lower escarpment path is a popular route for travelling north/south in the downtown area and is a key connector to the Black Street stairs for commuters travelling down from neighbourhoods above the Alaska Highway.

The gravel road path connecting Granger and Hillcrest is a popular corridor for commuters leaving Copper Ridge and Granger who are looking to access the downtown core.

An elevation in service level here will allow for a more seamless connection for Copper Ridge and Granger residents to access the new Alaska Highway paved pathway which connects to the airport paved path and then the Black Street stairs, says the report.