COEUR d'ALENE - The numbers, though estimates, have been tallied.

Building out the education corridor's infrastructure around the North Idaho College campus could cost around $9 million, engineers calculate.

That price would bring in ample enhancements: One mile of expanded streets - namely a built-out Hubbard Street, Mullan Road and College Drive - bike lanes, traffic-calming roundabouts and two new signals, and a mile and a half of connecting bicycle paths to the Centennial Trial.

Aesthetics too. Throw in 350 deciduous trees and 100 coniferous trees, and lamps up and down the new streets.

But how the project would be funded is the million dollar question.

"It's a high priority for us," said Denny Davis, chairman of Lake City Development, the city's urban renewal agency and one of the project stakeholders. "But we're going to have to figure out what's doable, financially."

The numbers aren't final. In fact, JUB Engineers, who did the roughly $200,000 conceptual study, said they were conservative or in this case, high. The next step would be for one or more of the stakeholders - including LCDC, the city of Coeur d'Alene, North Idaho College and its foundation and the University of Idaho - to hire an engineering firm to finalize a plan.

If that happens, the final plan could go out to bid in May, with the first phase of the overhaul completed by early next fall. If that's the case, the entities would have to get together and figure out how to fund it, said Tony Berns, LCDC executive director.

Phase 1 includes the bulk of the proposed improvements.

It would start with a built-out, signalized intersection with turn lanes at Hubbard Street and Northwest Boulevard. That would go south through the former mill ground to an intersection, controlled by a roundabout, that would split to the southwest in a new road called College Drive. The new road would intersect with River Avenue and the current College Drive, controlled by another roundabout. Going west along River Drive, another roundabout would be placed at the intersection of Hubbard Street, eventually linking up to a built-out intersection, with turn lanes and signals, at Northwest Boulevard.

What's built out mean as far as street improvements?

It's a variation of shared paths and sidewalks next to green space with trees, which border traffic lanes, with a median of more green space between. Sewer connections would be built in, too, and the ingress and egress routes would likely be safer for commuters.

"I'm all for it," said student Leah Meister, at the NIC campus Friday, on whether the infrastructure improvements were worth the costs. With college enrollment up 36 percent since 2007, the improvements are a must to handle the numbers. "I think it's ridiculous not to."

Bike trails along the Spokane River and along Northwest Boulevard could also be put in and connect to the Centennial Trail around the Harbor Center.

A second phase would include a roundabout at the intersection of Park Drive where it merges into Mullan Road, next to City Park and Memorial Field.

JUB is scheduled to detail the conceptual design to the City Council on Nov. 2.