City staff will be exploring options around a pedestrian crosswalk on Oak Street at the walkway building.
A councillor motion has been given the green light for staff to bring options to the 2023 budget discussions.
Councillor Dave Mendicino says there is confusion with the existing situation.
“Pedestrians are standing there, they see that there’s some kind of crosswalk because it’s designated differently than the rest of the road,” he says. “Drivers on the other hand as they’re approaching, sometimes with quite a bit of speed, they don’t see any markings that indicate to slow down or they need to do whatever.”
Councillor Mac Bain seconded the motion and says like Mendicino he hears about the issue almost on a weekly basis.
“We’ve got a different coloured pavement that makes it look like a crosswalk so if it looks like a crosswalk and walks like a crosswalk, it’s a crosswalk,” he says. “We as a city have a responsibility to make it safe, we’re not spending any dollars.”
Councillor Scott Robertson says he’d rather staff focus their attention on the existing Active Transportation Masterplan.
“I can’t think it’s more than 50 metres between that street and the intersection at Ferguson and Oak, which has a light at it. Just a slight bit more on the other side to Fraser that leads right to the walkway that goes past the Quints Museum and the splash pad,” he says. “I’ve personally never heard of anyone who has a problem with this intersection.”
Council, including Robertson, ultimately supported the motion.
