New study warns of U.S. long-term debt problems

WASHINGTON — A new government study says that federal health care and retirement programs threaten to overwhelm the federal budget and harm the economy in coming decades unless Washington finds the political will to restrain their inexorable growth. The long-term pressures promise to quickly reverse recent improvements in the deficit.

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Study aims to attract retailers

A new study will soon define whether St. Albert needs more retail stores, and what kind of stores they should be.

The retail market analysis, organized by the city’s economic development team, will compare St. Albert to similar communities in the area, locate sites for future retail stores and give the city’s economic development team a new tool to attract developers.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/k5w7jd8

Shaftesbury Trail Study ready for public input

The Shaftesbury Trail is facing unique pressures, but also unique opportunities, according to the Municipal District of Peace.

Following the development of the MD’s Municipal Development Plan (MDP) in 2009, it was decided that an additional study of the trail was needed to provide direction to address the pressures and potential growth.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/ah7ygbh

Southern Foothills Study back on track

Work on an extensive study looking at the impact human activities have on Alberta’s southwest Foothills is once again underway after being on hold for almost four years.

A meeting was held at the MD of Ranchlands office at the Chain Lakes on March 25 to restart the third phase of the extensive Southern Foothills Study (SFS). The meeting brought together many of the study’s original advisory group members as well as new members to decide which direction the project should now proceed.

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Further study for 132 Avenue

The functional study of 132 Avenue will undergo further community consultation, as the city’s community growth committee agreed to fund more than $149,000 extra into the engineering project Tuesday.

Exactly a year ago, the city approved close to $132,000 for the original functional study, which was completed late in 2012 and included changes to the road, which runs from 84 Street to 116 Street.

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County wants river study

Mountain View County wants the province to update its flood assessment of the Red Deer River so decisions can be made on how best to ward against a future disaster.

Municipal officials met last month with Alberta Environment and Sustainable Resource Development staff and emphasized the need to take another look at the river, which hasn’t been assessed for many years.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/bj4fyo9

 

City to take second look at 132 Ave. functional study

They say if you build it, they will come, but for a few local north-end businesses, the construction of a planned roadway is creating concern about lost business.

Business owners as well as a representative of Suncor, which owns Petro Canada, voiced concerns about a functional study completed on a north-end road, and the City of Grande Prairie has agreed to take a second look.

The 132 Avenue functional study has ruffled some feathers in the business community, leading some to come to the public works committee Tuesday to voice their concerns.

Read more: http://tinyurl.com/a2nqv5z    

 

City joins regional transit study

FORT SASKATCHEWAN – Fort Saskatchewan city council happily climbed aboard a Capital Region study to develop a business case for a regional transit operation.

The $250,000 study will outline the costs, benefits and merits of a commission structure to oversee the management of a regional public transit operation.

Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Gale Katchur described the step as “significant” given the slow pace of bringing all the major transit players in the region together.

Read more:  http://tinyurl.com/d8vpmqx