By Glenn Hicks

What’s the police angle on P.A. streetscape design?

Oct 15, 2018 | 11:50 AM

Prince Albert Police are advising a reduced speed limit and other safety enhancements as part of the city’s proposed downtown streetscape and development plans.

They have recommended the city explore a reduction in speed from 40 to 30 kilometres an hour as well as high-visibility, wide, raised crosswalks. This is in light of the proposal to make Central Avenue into a single lane with angled parking as opposed to the current parallel parking scheme.

“There are no issues or safety concerns that the police brought,” Acting Chief Jon Bergen told paNOW after a P.A. Board of Police Commissioners meeting Monday. “What we looked at were the changes from parallel to angled parking and what should be considered.”

He said the police had done their research including talking to SGI about the risks of vehicular and pedestrian incidents related to angled parking, among other things. Angled parking means vehicles backing out of a stall would be doing so against the flow of traffic.

“Reduced speeds are proven to reduce incidents, and if people walk between angled parking, if the vehicle is high enough it could be hard to see that person and be unsafe, as well as unfair for the motorist,” Bergen said. He added the raised crosswalks would also reduce jaywalking.

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Police are also recommending safety pillars be placed where seating areas are to be located to stop a vehicle that may leave the roadway, a bicycle lane to keep bikes off the sidewalk, and clear signage to keep heavy vehicles and dangerous goods traffic from blocking sight lines. Dionne said during the meeting that there isn’t room for a bicycle lane currently, “not even an inch.”

“With a single lane and angled parking you’re going to have to slow down because you’re backing into traffic,” Mayor Greg Dionne told paNOW. “Also we want it to be more pedestrian-friendly and reducing the speed limit will do that.”

The complete plans for the downtown streetscape and development have yet to be finalized and will now go to the City’s planning department for a further report.

With files from Charlene Tebbutt

glenn.hicks@jpbg.ca

On Twitter:@princealbertnow