Commitee Requests Council To Upgrade Iron Bridge Crossing
By Robert Thomas
After an unplanned pandemic proroguing the postponed discussion around a potential pedestrian crossing from Iron Bridge across Thatcher Drive was finally before the Public Works, Infrastructure and Environment Advisory Committee (PWIEAC) on Wednesday afternoon.
And although the committee did not decide to recommend to Council what Iron Bridge residents wanted the crossing project moved forward.
PWIEAC was being asked to provide a recommendation about whether or not to proceed with the enhanced pedestrian crossing.
Residents of Iron Bridge initiallly asked for an enhanced pedestrian crossing across Thatcher Drive W in Spring 2018 but it had been denied after a traffic count found traffic and pedestrian volumes did not warrant it.
The warrant system allows Administration to approve by using data an enhanced intersection upgrade
Residents of Iron Bridge then appealed in August 2019 with a petition signed by all 58 households in the subdivision.
The issue then went to PWIEAC for a potential recommendation and the request for Council to approve the enhanced traffic control or to deny it.
The proposed pedestrain crossing will be located in this area - MJ Independent photo
In speaking to the report City Manager Jim Puffalt said the issue had been outstanding for a lengthy period of time and it needed to be addressed.
“This is one of the outstanding items from May 2018…we need to move forward on that,” Puffalt told the committee.
He went on to explain how personnel changes within the Engineering Department had meant the present Director of Engineering Bevan Harlton had picked up the file from his predecessor Josh Mickelborough and “not a lot was done on it.”
Puffalt said something had to be done in the interim basis regarding the crossing.
“I think there needs to be an interim solution. There needs to be a crosswalk there,” Puffalt said.
He recommended the committee consider a marked crosswalk, yellow flashing lights and reduced speeds until a more thorough traffic and pedestran count could be made and then a consultant’s report come back with recommendations as to what to do regarding a potential enhanced pedestrian crossing.
“It’s been a long outstanding issue. I think something there is needed we just do not know what,” Puffalt said adding it would be more clearly defined once all of data goes to a traffic engineer and they come back with a recommendation.
Committee member Daryl New said the petitioners were looking for a better solution than the one proposed by Puffalt.
“Because of the position of the crosswalk overhead lights would be more proper for Thatcher Drive,” New said. “I think they (the petitioners) are looking for consistency with a light overhead.”
The residents were looking for a pedestrian crossing similar to the one by West Park where there is a painted crosswalk and overhead lights.
The committee met late Wednesday afternoon in Council Chambers - MJ Independent photo
Pufffalt said having a crossing similar to the one from West Park across Thatcher Drive W could not be approved and built by the end of the year but a temporary one with signage, solar powered flashing yelllow lights and a painted crosswalk could be.
Discussion then turned to where the interim crossing would be located with Puffalt stating it had to be where people would naturally walk as they would not use a crossing which was not the easiest to use.
“People go where the are going to go. They are going to go where it is the easiest place to cross.”
Harlton said his preliminary look regarding what setbacks were necessary from the CN tracks did not seem to appear to infringe upon any railway held right of way.
New said the discussion of where to locate the crossing was premature.
“For us to discuss it we are not going to go anywhere until we have a professional look at the crosswalk,” he said. “Going straight across is the obvious route to go.
Puffalt reasserted the need to put the crossing where people naturally walked.
“You can put the crossing wherever you want but if the goat track is over there people are going to walk over there,” he said.
Although cement work would not take place until after the traffic engineer presented his study the interim solution could also include putting down crusher dust on the trail pedestrians would use.
Committee chair Reese Allen agreed with not moving the crossing towards the street but to rather put it where people are actually going to use it.
Regarding the final installation of an overhead crossing light similar to what crosses Thatcher Drive W from West Park Puffalt said he did not think the upcoming traffic engineer’s report and count of pedestrians and vehicles would warrant as much of an enhancement as the residents wanted.
“As far as an overhead crossing I don’t know if it is warranted….but at least move it forward and forward it to recommend to Council.”
New said he did not agree with the interim solution becoming permanent.
“This is not the end all solution. I don’t feel comfortable with a crossing and a low level flashing light,” New said.
The issue of having to adopt a new bylaw to accomodate resident appeals and override the present warrant system was briefly discussed.
“I’m a little bit surprised we had t pass another bylaw to address this crossing which may not meet the warrant system,” New said.
Allen said the committee’s role was only an advisiory one and they could only provide recommendations to Council and not force them to adopt any changes to the crossing and the bylaw.
“Citizens can still get ahold of their councillors and say that is not what they want.”
Councillor Chris Warren said what the committee was doing was having Adminstration to make a change based upon data and “there might have to be certain things to bypass the warrant system.”
New stated even if the change was done for this crossing other requests for similar enhanced intersection controls would need a bylaw change to allow residents to petition for change and get arond the present warrant system.
The warrant system is used to determine of an intersection needs to be upgraded it looks not just t traffic and pedestrian counts but also accidents to allow Administration to take action to upgrade the intersection.
Puffalt said the committee should not get bogged down in a new bylaw to bypass the warrant system but rather, if they agreed, to request Council to approve the interim crossing.
“Whether or not it is bylaw related let’s leave that up to Council and Administration,” Councillor Warren said.
Councilor Warren then said the final decision would lie in the traffic engineer’s report.
“I think that a lot of the frustration was the traffic count was done before the parks were done, but the parks were on the way….we mght see an increase in volumes, once we do these enhancements. It may warrant enhanced intersection upgrades but it may not,” Councillor Warren said. “At least we have taken a step to a safe intersection.”
The committee then voted 6 - 1 in favour of recommending Council approve the painting of a crosswalk, with warning signs, flashing yellow lights and a speed reduction in 2020. Additionally they recommended the final crossing decison be based upon a traffic and pedestrian count to be done no later than June 2021 as part of a forthcoming traffic engineer’s report.