Staff
Pedestrians having to wait for trains crossing the roadway at Pither’s Point Park will have a place to rest in future after council on Monday authorized the Rainy River Valley Safety Coalition to install two benches there (one on each side of the tracks).
These benches will be similar to the ones installed along the waterfront, featuring a concrete slab, metal frame, and wooden planks.
The decision comes at no cost to the town.
The safety coalition made the request to council back in June.
In a letter to council, RRVSC chair Bob Swing explained the request, noting: “Trains travelling into the United States must be X-rayed as they enter the country, which increases the time of closed crossings.”
“These longer times increase the potential of individuals climbing through trains rather than waiting for the crossings to clear,” he warned.
“All can agree the potential for serious injury and death greatly increases from such choices.”
Swing later noted: “We feel benches will give us an avenue to promote messages of safety out to the public and hopefully reduce the injury potential associated with at-risk behaviours,” adding the benches would give pedestrians an option to “Take a Seat for Safety.”
The safety coalition will purchase the benches and have them installed. Maintenance should be minimal, but the RRVSC also will take care of that.
The request was referred to the Operations and Facilities executive committee for its recommendation earlier this month, which, in turn, came back to council Monday with a report suggesting the project go ahead.
The only concern was the bench on the Pither’s Point Park side of the tracks should be installed so it doesn’t create a safety hazard to pedestrians or motorists.
