Preliminary steps on improvements to Northeast Seventh Avenue are set to move forward in Oak Harbor’s six-year transportation plan, which the city council approved last Wednesday.

Because of a lack of funding, it will be years, however, before construction begins.

The 2019-24 plan can only include projects that have federal funds already allocated, which is why only engineering and right-of-way costs for the Seventh Avenue project are included in the plan, according to planning staff.

The project aims to improve access for pedestrians and bicycles in areas without sidewalks.

The street has been a concern for the city for a long time, and it had obtained grant funding for it in 2011 but lost matching funds after unexpected mitigation costs from another project came up.

The six-year plan also includes surface overlay on Northwest Heller Street and a waterfront trail enhancement project at Oak Harbor’s VFW Memorial Park.

The enhancements would include a new sidewalk, way-finding information, landscaping and historical and environmental information, according to the plan.