By Thia James

City to consider one-way streets in Midtown after all

Jun 10, 2014 | 6:28 AM

In the face of increased public pressure, Prince Albert’s city council will keep an open mind to converting a few streets in Prince Albert’s Midtown area into one-way thoroughfares.

By a slim majority, council did not support a report that called for Eighth to 12th Streets East between First and Sixth Avenues East to keep the two-way traffic status quo. 

But at Monday’s meeting, Coun. Tim Scharkowski, who originally asked administration to look into the possibility of converting these streets to one-way traffic zones, renewed his support for one-way streets in this area.

Scharkowski is now proposing that the City embark on a pilot project that would see sections of one or all of the streets between Eighth to 12th Streets East become one-way streets from July to September.

He said shortly after he brought this issue up, he was driving along 13th Street East, which is not included in this request, and witnessed first-hand the problem with the narrow streets. He said his side mirror was clipped.

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“My mirror didn’t get actually damaged, but the vehicle that was going eastbound shattered their mirror right off their truck. So, there is not a lot of room in those areas,” he said.

He said the response they’ve been getting from the public is that there have to be changes made in this area – no one has said it should be left the way it is.

“And, unless we’re going to be taking out trees and moving back boulevards to widen those streets, I don’t know what the resolve is.”

Coun. Mark Tweidt said he received a letter from a resident who suggested the City allow parking on one side of these streets.

“What happens in the winter, the two cars are there, and that becomes very narrow. And she’s suggesting … you can only park on one side, so you always have two lanes,” he said.

But Mayor Greg Dionne said in the past, this was discussed, but the problem was residents didn’t want parking on their side of the street.

He said he took calls from residents who didn’t like the idea of one-way streets, because that means vehicles will be travelling at faster speeds.

“At least now, everyone knows they have to go down those streets slow. They’re concerned if we made them one way, whoosh.”

He said he doesn’t want to get involved with more than one one-way street. The city currently has one one-way street – Central Avenue, between River Street and 15th Avenue.

Coun. Charlene Miller said she spoke to Coun. Lee Atkinson, whose ward Midtown is located in. Atkinson was not present at Monday evening’s council meeting. Miller said Atkinson wanted to see the pilot project in place on 10th Street East.

She, too, agrees this street should be one-way. “Because there is a school zone and … there could be fatalities going on in the school zone. Because people aren’t doing the speed limits in that area.”

At the end of Monday’s meeting, Scharkowski gave notice of his motion asking for a one-way traffic pilot project in Midtown. He is expected to formally introduce his motion at the next council meeting.

tjames@panow.com

On Twitter: @thiajames