City council has referred approval of the 2010 sidewalk and street lighting projects to next week after residents of North High Street opposed the location of a new sidewalk in their area Monday night.
The proposed sidewalk, already approved by council in the 2010 capital budget, would be built on the west side of North High Street from Parsons Avenue to Theresa Street near Superior Collegiate and Vocational Institute. The side walk would be built in partnership with Lakehead Board of Education which has raised concerns about student safety and the lack of sidewalks in the area.
"There’s a need for a sidewalk in that area," Coun. Trevor Giertuga. "I’ve walked it it’s dangerous."
But residents on the west side of North High Street say they are "very disappointed" that the city wants to build the sidewalk on their side of the street instead of the east side where it makes more sense said resident Alli O’Shea. O’Shea, along with her mother LaVaun and neighbour David Smith, told council Monday that students never walk on the west side of the street.
Although city administration said that building the sidewalk on the west side would help with continuity due to an existing sidewalk further south on High Street, the deputants said there is also a new sidewalk built on the east side in front of the high school to continue.
Coun. Rebecca Johnson said she agreed with the O’shea family and Smith. Johnson said she went near the high school early Monday morning and said students were using the east side of the street to get to school.
"If that’s (east) their natural path why wouldn’t we be looking at that for a place to build a sidewalk?" asked Johnson.
But city engineering manager Pat Mauro said students using the east side of the street usually use the Balsam Street sidewalk instead. Mauro said the location of the sidewalk was based on a map given to the city by the school board showing student locations. He said based on discussions with the board, the west side was the best place for a sidewalk.
"We really don’t need a sidewalk on the east side," Mauro said.
O’Shea said a sidewalk on her side of the street would disrupt snow removal, parking and reduce sight lines for residents backing out of their driveway. Out of 16 houses on the west side of North High Street, 12 residents signed a petition asking the city to put the sidewalk on the other side of the street. Coun. Brian McKinnon said he thought if residents didn’t want a sidewalk on their street they didn’t have to have one.
"Students aren’t using it," said McKinnon. "If the residents don’t want it why build it?"
The sidewalk represents about $90,0000 of a total $947,420.12, the lowest bid made by Bay City Contractors Inc., worth of sidewalk and street light projects expected this summer. Approval of the contract will come before council next Monday with more information about the High Street sidewalk.
Also Monday, the city heard from representatives of HMCS Griffon to change the name of Marina Park Drive to Naval Heritage Drive. Griffon Commander John Bell said the name would help residents remember the contributions made by merchant and naval sailors to Thunder Bay.
A report on the name change is expected to come before council in July.
