City of Powell River councillors will consider installing flashing beacon crosswalks in two locations.
At the August 30 committee of the whole meeting, manager of engineering services Nagi Rizk brought a report covering prospective crosswalks at three locations in the city: Fernwood Avenue at Alberni Street, Manson Avenue at Barnet Street, near Larry Gouthro Park, and at Duncan Street and Ontario Avenue.
Rizk told councillors that the three crosswalks had been studied. He said all the manuals that staff consulted are against installing crosswalks at any of the locations.
“However, council has discretion to direct staff to install crosswalks wherever council deems them to be required,” added Rizk.
Councillor Maggie Hathaway asked, when the city installs a crosswalk, what kind of liability is being incurred?
Rizk said the Municipal Insurance Association of British Columbia (MIABC) has indicated that mid-block crosswalks have liability associated with them, even with signage. He said drivers do not expect people to be crossing in the middle of the road.
“We are inviting pedestrian crossings where they should not be, according to the provincial standards,” said Rizk.
Mayor Dave Formosa said the city managed to get a crosswalk at Willingdon Beach and it took eight years.
“I have to tell you that it is a really busy crosswalk,” added Formosa. “If we use the mentality of MIABC, we wouldn’t have that. The city, as I see it, is in the liability business. We own sidewalks that crack and break and freeze, we own roads, parks and trees.
“I had moms in here with buggies wanting to cross into Larry Gouthro Park. They were bolting across the road with their buggies and babies. If they get hit, they can’t sue us, but if we put a crosswalk in, now, they can sue us. So, no crosswalks, no lawsuits.”
Formosa said he fully supported a crosswalk at Larry Gouthro Park and one at Alberni and Fernwood.
“Let’s take it to council and vote on these crosswalks,” added the mayor.
Councillor Cindy Elliott said she is in agreement with Formosa.
“Our community and the people in it should be able to walk across roads where they want to walk across roads,” she added. “I’d like to debate the merits of whether we should go with the extra lights to make it safer for people versus just the crosswalks.”
The committee gave unanimous consent to send the matter to city council to debate directing staff to install solar rectangular rapid-flashing beacon crosswalks at the Fernwood and Alberni intersection, and across Manson Avenue near Larry Gouthro Park, at a cost of $107,600, to be funded from general unappropriated surplus.
The intersection at Duncan and Ontario did not receive a recommendation.
At a committee of the whole meeting in July, councillors considered a letter from Adria Hiltz, who expressed concerns over the lack of a crosswalk at Alberni and Fernwood, where her best friend’s sister was hit by a car.
