The Langley City Council approved a first reading of a six-year transportation improvement plan for 2018-2023 at its regular monthly meeting on Aug. 7.

The plan includes improvements to nearly a dozen roads around the city, some of which have funding from the federal Surface Transportation Program, which is administered by the state. The transportation improvement plan is crafted annually and required by the state.

The council, however, decided to hold on approving a connecting trail from Edgecliff Drive to Sandy Point in 2018 until a trail plan is developed. Public Works Director Stan Berryman worked with the Parks and Open Spaces Commission to develop a trail plan. The changes will be included in an updated version of the plan, which the council is expected to vote on at 5:30 p.m. on Aug. 18 at city hall.

An upcoming project in 2018 includes a $634,150 reclamation and overlay of Saratoga Road, which is in “really bad shape” according to Public Works Director Stan Berryman. Berryman is applying for a Transportation Improvement Board grant for the project.

City Councilman Thomas Gill asked Berryman if there were any plans to fix drainage, which is causing erosion under the road. Berryman replied that the grants mainly fund overlays and not the reconstruction of roads, and that the drainage is coming from Saratoga Creek. He added the city will do what it can, but the grand funding will not be able to fix the core of the problem.

City Councilwoman Dominique Emerson added that she wished there were “multi-modal” improvements to Saratoga Road and that it not just be tailored to cars.

Another project for 2018 includes several improvements to First Street, from Wharf Street to Anthes Avenue. The $250,000 project includes milling, road overlay, wider sidewalks, crosswalks, American Disabilities Act improvements, bike racks. It will be completely funded by the Transportation Improvement Board’s Complete Streets grant.

Community discussion on the improvements to First Street are expected to occur in October at the Langley United Methodist Church, Mayor Tim Callison said.

A third project for 2018 is building a connecting trail from Edgecliff Drive to Sandy Point. The project, which Berryman said is a priority of the Parks and Open Spaces Commission, is estimated at $500,000. Grant funding has not yet been secured for the project.

Several future projects are funded by the Surface Transportation Program, which is a federal grant administered by the state. Future projects include improvements to Second Street, from Anthes Avenue to DeBruyn Avenue, repairing the Middle Earth Trail behind the Langley Middle School field and improving Sandy Point Road, Third Street, DeBruyn Avenue, Park Avenue and Fairgrounds Road.