Forget switching to data on your cellphone when you're discussing the latest trends with your friends at the beach or while walking downtown.
In April, council asked city staff to look into spending federal gas-tax funding on a waterfront/downtown wifi project. Requests for proposal were accepted over the summer from vendors to provide the service.
A five-phase approach was chosen to provide "the most flexibility for installation and budget," according to a memo from Ryan Nolan, the city's director of information technology.
As part of the $8.6 million in federal gas-tax funding, council set aside $400,000 for the waterfront/downtown wifi project.
The coverage area includes the waterfront and walking trails from the Southshore Centre to Heritage Park, including Meridian Place, as well as Dunlop Street from Mulcaster to Toronto streets.
The waterfront area, which includes the first three phases, will be completed by March 2020. The city will work with the Downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) to co-ordinate installation of the Dunlop Street phases around the construction schedule during the big dig downtown.
"More detailed planning and discussions are required for Phase 4 and 5," Nolan said, "but the goal is to have them commissioned by summer 2020, if possible."
The wifi project is moving along within budget, Nolan added, "with major cost negotiations completed within expectations."
The city came into $8.6 million in federal gas-tax funding earlier this year, the vast majority going toward road resurfacing, including almost $3.5 million for work on Dunlop Street West, as well as $300,000 to traffic-calming measures and active transportation, and $200,000 in tennis court rehabilitation.
