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City to mull traffic calming measures for Nordale

Mar 6, 2018 | 2:00 PM

Traffic calming devices like small traffic circles or speed bumps could be on the way for a busy street in Nordale which residents say is creating safety issues for their neighbourhood.

Residents living around Fifth Ave. NW maintain many non-residents use their street as a short-cut to the landfill and often exceed speed limits. Neighbours petitioned the city for four-way stops and yield signs, but numbers gathered by the city show it does not meet the criteria for signs.

According to a report, speeds measured in the area indicate that 85 per cent of vehicles are travelling at or under 38 km/h and only 10 per cent of vehicles are travelling over the 40 km/h speed limit. Volume measurements have yielded similar results.

The Public Works Department looked into signage options and found that while a stop or yield sign may deter a few drivers, it could cause other more dangerous problems. Studies have shown that installing a stop sign that is not warranted for an intersection can actually increase collision rates. The option to install a curb and sidewalk was weighed but would come at a cost of around $300,000.

Campaigning for signage, Ward 2 Coun. Terra Lennox-Zepp said nearly everyone who lives in the area supports the change.

“This is a decision that should be heavily influenced by people who live in the area,” she said. “This is what the local residents believe will make their community safer.”

While many agreed action needs to be taken, councillors expressed concerns about other intersections residents have asked to be addressed.

Ward 8 Coun. Ted Zurakowski said while it is tempting to deal with every localized issue, council “can’t turn a blind eye to the rest of the city.”

“We are inundated with requests…. At some point we need to look at it scientifically and take a look at the numbers and what the counts are and make educated decisions,” he added.

Mayor Greg Dionne agreed, asking for the request to be sent back to his office. He vowed to meet with the residents to discuss other options, believing small traffic circles or speed dumps could remedy the situation. The mayor said he spoke with planners in Saskatoon and learned of 15 unique traffic calming devices. He said Saskatoon has embraced countless traffic calming devices and would like to see Prince Albert follow suit.

“I want to take those pictures [of the traffic calming devices] and show the residents and say, ‘The reason why I cant support stop signs and yield signs; then you will all want them.’ That is why we have a system to go through,” he explained. “I do believe, at the end of the day, we are going to slow down the traffic. That is the goal and I think we can accomplish that with traffic calming devices.”

 

tyler.marr@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @JournoMarr