College Station's city council has signed off on designers for a new hike and bike trail, while eliminating more than 100 parking spaces in Northgate for safety's sake.

In Northgate, 119 parking spaces on Tauber and Stasney Streets will be removed. The changes come because fire officials need at least 26 feet to safely maneuver into an area in case of an emergency. Right now, they do not have enough room.

The city had worked with businesses and residences on those streets to try and increase fire department access while also adding sidewalks and replacing aging sewer and water systems.

More than $3 million has been budgeted to rehabilitate Tauber and Stasney Streets.

The council also gave its approval for Bury+Partners, Inc. to do engineering design services for the city's Hike & Bike Trail Completion Project. The company will be paid $112,133.

In 2008, voters approved bond money to go towards the trails, and the city identified a portion of the Bee Creek Greenway Trail for completion, a portion that runs along Harvey Mitchell Parkway (FM 2818) from Welsh Avenue to Texas Avenue.

A&M Consolidated High School is at the corner of Welsh and 2818. Students had lobbied the council for better paths on which to walk and bike.