The town would like to see the speed limit reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h on King’s Highway between McIrvine Road and Keating Avenue weekdays from 11 a.m.-2 p.m..
The reduced speed limit would go hand-in-hand with the new crosswalk that was set up between McDonald’s and A&W, which council formally legalized with a bylaw at last night’s regular meeting.
CAO Bill Naturkach said council will have to wait for approval from the Ministry of Transportation before changing the speed limit because King’s Highway is part of Highway 11/71.
Council also is looking at several other safety measures to make the crosswalk more visible. One such item would be the purchase of a “punch-light” crosswalk, with flashing ambers that would go with the use of a push button whenever a pedestrian wanted to cross.
Town employee Raymond Roy said the rough estimate of setting up two poles with flashing ambers would be about $15,000.
“Are we prepared to pay that kind of money?” asked Mayor Glenn Witherspoon, noting the reduced speed, along with adequate signage warning about pedestrians, “sounds a lot easier and cheaper.”
Coun. Roy Avis also noted some concern with traffic being tied up due to mis-use of such a device, noting the town heard complaints of such a problem when a punch-light system was set up near Alexander MacKenzie School.
But Coun. Sharon Tibbs wondered if they could use a timed light system of some sort that wouldn’t delay traffic yet keep the flashing ambers.
“I want to see those signals,” she stressed.
“The flashing light identifies it as a pedestrian crosswalk,” echoed Coun. Dave Bourgeault.
While they agreed to wait for further information on overhead light costs, the town wants negotiations to begin with McDonald’s owner John Myers about what cost his business was willing to shoulder in making a safe crosswalk which essentially leads only to his restaurant.
“Right now, that crosswalk is for his benefit and only his benefit,” pointed out Coun. Avis.
Ideally, the town would like a concrete slab poured at the end of the crosswalk on the south side of the highway. The question then was whether the town needed to install a sidewalk between McDonald’s two driveways–and who should shoulder the cost?
Bruce Spottiswood, superintendent of facilities and works, said the town could just pave the slab up to the property line and let McDonald’s decide if it wanted to put in a sidewalk for its customers.
“If the kids want to walk on the grass, sure,” Spottiswood remarked.
Council also wanted to see if McDonald’s might want to provide a cross guard service for its customers although Naturkach warned this wasn’t considered feasible by the local police services board.
“The issue of a cross guard was not supported, given that it would be a job from hell,” he remarked.
Meanwhile, councillors also wanted to see the hole in the fence repaired between the new high school and the north side of King’s Highway, which would force students to walk to Keating Avenue and then up to the sidewalk on the north side of King’s Highway.
The town also has received complaints from businesses just on the other side of the fence of students coming onto their property and loitering there to smoke.
Mayor Witherspoon said all safety measures regarding that section of King’s Highway should be resolved in the next month or so. But regardless of what action is finally taken, Coun. Tibbs said all the safety measures add up to nothing if they’re not used by the students.
“Once we have it up and operating, I think that we should contact the student council,” she said.
“I think we need to appeal to the student body that we’re providing something for their safety, and we want their co-operation in using it,” she stressed.
Fort Frances Times
Local News from Across the Rainy River District
