THUNDER BAY – Many city councillors didn’t agree with administration’s choice for a pilot crossover intersection but in the end, it supported the recommendation with near unanimity.
City engineering manager Kayla Dixon and mobility coordinator Adam Krupper presented their plan to build Thunder Bay’s first pedestrian crossover at Algoma Street and Cornwall Avenue to city council on Monday and were greeted with skepticism.
A number of councillors had hoped to see the crossover erected at the NorWest Community Health Center where Simpson Street meets Heron Street. The location was favoured by the Accessibility Committee but administration’s shortlist of seven sites left off all three of the committee’s top choices.
Engineers instead investigated the intersection of Simpson and Bethune streets, half a kilometre south of the clinic.
Dixon said the traffic volume and street width outside the clinic would have made the intersection unsuitable to erect a “Type B” crossover, the model the city intends to widely apply in the future.
Coun. Iain Angus was incensed.
“So, what you’re telling me is because a more complex solution was required to protect the users of the health centre, the two schools that are served by that general crossing area and folks coming from the East End, your recommendation is that we not provide that kind of protection at this point in time?”
Dixon explained the cost of a crossover at the health clinic intersection would be far greater and would betray the spirit of the education and safety outcomes the pilot project was designed to achieve. She added Simpson Street’s traffic concerns and options will be included in a separate report administration is expecting to submit to council in September.
“The goal of this is specifically for a pilot project,” Dixon said.
“We want to bring awareness to the community and part of that is choosing a location that is visible and will be well used but is also going to provide and be similar to what the community will see, going forward. Specifically at the new clinic area, we’d be looking at additional costs for that location to be developed.”
Angus also questioned administration’s collision data at the Algoma and Cornwall location, pointing out its 2005 to 2015 records wouldn’t have taken street-narrowing and other traffic-calming infrastructure into account.
Krupper stood behind the Algoma Street recommendation.
“People are crossing the road at random points and every time somebody does that, traffic stops randomly at a different location,” he said.
“The hope is that by creating that centralized controlled location, it will actually facilitate better traffic flow because people will know when to stop.”
Only Coun. Larry Hebert voted against the recommendation. Coun. Aldo Ruberto declared a conflict of interest, as he owns property in the area.
Work is expected to begin on the crossover in September. City engineers will report back to council after a year of surveiling its effects.
