By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
In looking to enhance pedestrian safety and access to the multi-use trail on South Talbot Road, Council for the Town of Essex directed administration come back at budget deliberations with the cost to add one pedestrian crossings at Laird Avenue and the price for a sidewalk from Brien Avenue to Victoria Avenue on the east-side of the street.
Council will then be able to choose with which option to proceed.
The decision was made at the September 16 meeting, in addition to receiving a report regarding pedestrian crossings on South Talbot.
Back in June, Council supported Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais’s motion to direct Administration to review the feasibility of installing pedestrian access ramps along South Talbot Road at Iler Avenue, Laird Avenue, and Centre Street to access the multi-use pathway along South Talbot Road South.
At the time McGuire-Blais said there is a large stretch where the trail cannot be accessed, unless walking on the street.
She would like to see at least two installed. This is currently not permissible as there is not a controlled stop, she explained.
Norm Nussio, Manager of Operations and Drainage, presented the report at the recent meeting, which was created following the direction Council provided.
He said in 2016, Town administration reviewed all pedestrian crossings in urban centres. At that time, Council of the day supported continuing the practice of establishing controlled crossings on collector and arterial roads to improve vehicular and pedestrian safety in the Town using the Ontario Traffic Manual.
As per the Town’s Development Standards Manual, all collector roads are required to have sidewalks on both sides of the road with a provision for a multi-use trail to improve pedestrian safety for highly travelled roads within the municipality, he added.
At this time, Nussio said South Talbot does not have a sidewalk on the east-side of the road, but does have a multi-use trail on the west-side that runs parallel to Highway 3.He added there are two controlled crossings with stop signs on South Talbot, at Victoria Avenue and Brien Avenue.
Administration recommended installing a sidewalk on the east-side of South Talbot, from Brien to Victoria, to facilitate pedestrians.
That is different than the request made, but administration believed it was the best recommendation for the neighbourhood.
That would provide a cleaner look and would follow what the development standards calls for.
Nussio said the Town follows the Ontario Traffic Manual when it comes to crossings. In this case, if the Town did a crossing at the three intersections, almost 18 signs would have to be installed on that short stretch of road, along with paint markings, curb cuts, and access to the multi-use trail.
McGuire-Blais was not in favour of putting a sidewalk in. She said that is not what she asked for. She inquired about the cost for signage.
She noted one or two crossings, instead of all three, could be added.
Nussio suspected the sidewalk would cost more, but would be the more appropriate setup when thinking about residents, traffic, and sign pollution.
Councillor Joe Garon spoke about the potential frustration of drivers that could be created by adding additional stop signs. He believed a sidewalk may be the better solution.
Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley would not be opposed to putting in one crossing, which may be better than the cost of a sidewalk.
Be the first to comment