More raised crosswalks, such as this one near École Vickers, should soon be coming to P.A., after the city received $50,000 in funding. (Charlene Tebbutt/paNOW Staff)

By Charlene Tebbutt

School zones

SGI funding additional safety measures in P.A. school zones

May 13, 2019 | 5:00 PM

Additional safety measures are coming to several local school zones after the city was approved for $50,000 in funding through SGI.

The funding will be put toward raised crosswalks and electronic speed indicator signs in four areas, including near John Diefenbaker School and St. Catherine Catholic School, in front of Berezowsky School, at St. John Community School, and in front of École Valois. The money comes from the proceeds of photo speed enforcement.

A report from city administration recommending the installation of more raised crosswalks is expected to come before Prince Albert city council at their next meeting May 21 for formal approval. The city already has raised crosswalks in front of École Vickers and St. Francis School and in front of Westview Community School, according to Wes Hicks, director of public works with the city.

Unlike speed bumps that drivers might see in parking lots, the “tabletops” as they are sometimes called, are the same width as a crosswalk, Hicks said. The five locations identified in the city’s report all showed higher traffic counts and are on busier roads, he said.

Final numbers

Local RM results finalized

10h ago

Commitment

Hildebrand commits to Bemidji State in NCAA DI, first NCAA commitment in Raiders history

13h ago

Inflation

Rent inflation to slow in the next few years, Desjardins predicts

13h ago

“They seem to be fairly effective in slowing down traffic, but they’re also fairly good operationally because they don’t impact our snow removal in the wintertime,” Hicks said of the raised crosswalks. “The ramp is designed so that if you approach it in your vehicle at the prescribed speed, which is 30 [kilometres per hour] during school hours, and 40 after hours, you can smoothly go across.”

Work on the new raised crosswalks is planned for this summer, once city council gives the go ahead. The administration report also noted that other schools are being added to the city’s traffic counting program this year for further study, specifically in the areas around École St. Anne, Arthur Pechey School, Vincent Massey School, Riverside School, Princess Margaret and King George School.

The report said other city schools weren’t found to be in need of traffic calming at this time, either because they are located on collector or arterial roads and are fenced, such as Queen Mary School, or are in low traffic volume areas. In the case of École Holy Cross, which has been cited before as an area with a possible traffic safety concern, the school was deemed to already have traffic calming in place along 14^th Avenue East, the report adds.

The report said consultations on traffic safety initiatives were done with local school boards and principals in the community. A raised crosswalk costs approximately $5,000 to install, the report said.

Nearly $500,000 in grants have been approved for 27 community projects across Saskatchewan through the photo speed enforcement program. Joe Hargrave, minister responsible for SGI, said improving safety at crosswalks and intersections is important.

“We have to continue to take proactive means instead of reactive means,” Hargrave said. “We don’t want to see any kids get hurt, and the schools and those kids, that’s the number one priority.”

—

Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt