North Battleford city council at Monday's meeting. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW Staff)

By Angela Brown

Pedestrian safety

City to apply for grant for flashing crosswalk lights

Mar 28, 2023 | 5:14 PM

The City of North Battleford hopes to make streets in the community a little safer by adding flashing crosswalk lights.

Director of City Operations Stewart Schafer discussed the issue at this week’s council meeting.

Council approved a resolution for administration to apply for grant funding through the Provincial Traffic Safety program to purchase flashing crosswalk lights for six pedestrian crosswalks.

The city wants to install flashing crosswalk lights, similar to the lights shown here. (Submitted/City of North Battleford)

According to the Government of Saskatchewan, Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grants are awarded to communities twice a year, using proceeds from Photo Speed Enforcement.

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Schafer said the city’s Community Safety Officers and the city’s roads crew identified the following six intersections that could benefit from the flashing crosswalk lights:

Diefenbaker Drive and 107 Street; Douglas Avenue and MacDonald Drive; 13 Avenue and 104 Street; 1500 block of 101 Street; 11 Avenue at 107 Street; and 19 Avenue mid-block between 92 Street and 93 Street.

“They [these crosswalks] are a little bit hard to see, and drivers go through them a little faster than they should,” Schafer said. “So, we are going to try that.”

The estimated cost for the project, for all the equipment for the 12 signs, is about $46,550 including taxes. With the grant, the city will then put in its portion of $6,000 for the installation, about 12 per cent of the total cost.

Coun. Bill Ironstand wondered about the dependability of the lights being solar-powered. But Schafer was confident about relying on solar energy for these locations. It is also more cost-efficient than electrical. However, he said if there are any issues, the city can still easily access power that is available.

The six lighted crosswalks being looked at for the project are around school areas.

Coun. Kelli Hawtin also recommended a lighted crosswalk on 100 Street at around 17 Avenue or 18 Avenue be added where she said many high school students often cross the busy road during the day.

“There are no lights on 100 Street for two or three blocks in that one area,” she said. “Students go across to get fast food at lunch, or whatever it might be. That’s an area that I have seen often where there is not enough attention to the crosswalks.”

However, Schafer said the flashing crosswalk lights for the proposed project are specifically for single-lane traffic. Since 100 Street is double-lane, he said the city would need to look at applying for large overhead lights instead, which are more suitable for a location with multi-lane traffic. Schafer said the city can look at requesting funding for that project next time.

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Angela.Brown@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @battlefordsnow