Vancouver city council's pre-election, Olympic-related spending spree continues with projects worth almost $8.5 million approved at Tuesday's city council meeting.

Items include: Replacement of tracks by PNR RailWorks ($3.7 million) and supply and installation of power systems by Mott Electric ($1.46 million) to enable VANOC-sponsor Bombardier to run streetcars from Granville Island to the Olympic Village Canada Line station; Olympic decorative lighting in Yaletown and on Cambie Street, from the bridge south to King Edward ($1 million); wayfinding maps and signage ($200,000); bicycle, pedestrian and landscape improvements around Canada Line stations ($2.1 million).

At the end of September, council spent $13 million on Olympic public art, village roads and sidewalks, and a new wharf at Science World, a probable venue for Olympic sponsor events.

Council is also expected to OK 122 more taxicab licences, relax bylaws regulating temporary structures outside Olympic venues and approve the Four Host First Nations pavilion outside the Queen Elizabeth Theatre, which is undergoing a $35 million renovation.

Bob Mackin reports for 24 hours.