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Pedestrian crossover plans await new provincial regulations

THUNDER BAY -- City Council has committed to embarking on a pedestrian crossover pilot project in 2016 but shifting provincial regulations are making specifics unclear.
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Friends of Hillcrest Park's Liane Boyer makes a deputation to City Council on Monday as she submits a 400-signature petition calling for a pedestrian walkover that would link the park to the Active Living Corridor on Bay Street across High Street. (Photo by Jon Thompson, tbnewswatch.com)

THUNDER BAY -- City Council has committed to embarking on a pedestrian crossover pilot project in 2016 but shifting provincial regulations are making specifics unclear.

Council unanimously passed a resolution on Monday to move ahead with at least one pedestrian crossover as it budget includes $20,000 for crossover education alone.   

Deciding location and design, however, is subject to Ontario's Bill 31, which was made law in June 2015 but the province has yet to release its regulations regarding pedestrian crossovers.

Until regulations are released, city administration can't apply for matching provincial funding or move ahead on planning.  

"It's hard for administration to proceed with planning a crossover until they know what the provincial regulations are for crossovers," said McKellar Ward Coun. Paul Pugh. 

"You can't just go do something, then find out it was done wrong and have to go back and do it again." 

The Friends of Hillcrest Park presented a 400-signature petition to Council requesting a new crossover connect the park to the Bay Street Active Living Corridor across High Street as soon as possible. 

"This is about safety. You don't wait for somebody to get injured and then figure out what you should do," said Jane Taylor, who was struck by a vehicle walking her dog across High Street in March.     

"Safety is about planning ahead. If you're building a corridor on Bay Street, it just stops at High, then it jumps over? No, it goes all the way." 

Councilors and administrators debated strengths, weaknesses and alternatives to developing a crossover on High Street, including increased signage, increased police presence and decreased speed regulations.

During that conversation, city traffic technologist Ryan Love conceded it's not clear whether crossing High Street at Bay Street is or is not legally jaywalking. The stretch spans over a kilometre between intersections regulated by traffic lights.  

As she made her deputation on behalf of The Friends of Hillcrest Park, Liane Boyer said she just wanted a plan that would make her neighbourhood safer.       

"I've read the statement from the engineering department that recommends inaction because Jane is the only person that has been hit so far," Boyer said.

"It really begs the question, how many people need to be hit before action is taken and is a fatality required?"  

The Hillcrest Park intersection is only one among many pedestrian points the city would have to consider.

Coun. Iain Angus said the Thunder Bay District Health Unit has lobbied for such a crossover to be installed on Simpson Street. Mayor Keith Hobbs nominated a safe path crossing Water Street. Current River Coun. Andrew Foulds suggested Arundel Street in his riding.   

Until the new regulations are released, however, the city won't know the criteria it needs to meet in making those decisions. 

The cost of each walkover is expected to range from $8,000 to $27,000.   

 





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