SCRAMBLED YEG?
The city has launched a new pedestrian scramble pilot intersection at Jasper Avenue and 104 Street. A pedestrian scramble temporarily stops all vehicles, allowing pedestrians to cross in every direction — including diagonally — at the same time.
Edmonton’s new pedestrian scrambles are the latest change in an ongoing effort to make intersections safer. At 104 Street and Jasper Avenue Friday, all four directions of traffic stopped at once to let people walk across. A large white X on the pavement means people can cross diagonally if they choose.
Its means people are not trying to use a crosswalk when traffic is turning right or left.
“We want to reduce or eliminate completely those pedestrian-vehicle interactions that result in major injuries or fatalities,” said Olga Messinis, the city’s new director of network operations. She and other city staff were out during peak times Friday to explain the year-long pilot project to people in the area.
A second pedestrian scramble is being set up on Whyte Avenue at 105 Street. If the intersections work well, these could be rolled out at other high-pedestrian locations, said Messinis. “A pedestrian scramble offers the safest option.”
At lunch hour Friday, most people walking seemed to like the new design.
Lucie Martineau, who works for an education startup in the nearby Birks Building, said it’s better for her when she’s driving or walking.
The intersection has so many people trying to use the crosswalks, it can be really tough to turn, Martineau said. Since 104 Street is narrow, one vehicle trying to turn can hold everyone up. “I love it. Less risk, less distraction.”
“They’re great,” added Bill Beauregarde,
who just moved to Edmonton. He’s seen them in other cities. “I can cut across and not stop at lights to get across,” he said. “I think it’s safer, too. No cars are turning when you’re trying to cross.”
Messinis said city crews shortened the signal timing when they made the change.
Now east-west traffic flows for 45 seconds, then north-south traffic gets 15 seconds. Then pedestrians get 30 seconds to cross.
“Diagonally, zigzag ... the point is there are no vehicles entering,” said Messinis.
City crews used video analytics to quantify the number of close calls before the pilot project. They’re going to wait until people are used to the signal change, then measure again. They will also do public surveys to determine whether the new signal should stay.
Edmonton has been trying to improve the safety of its intersections, especially since last year, when the auditor criticized officials for failing to follow up on crosswalk changes to ensure they actually improved safety. On average, eight people are hit and killed while walking in Edmonton each year.
Since then, city officials have experimented with bright red markings in the crosswalks, better reflective tape on signs and new kinds of flashing lights. They’re due to report back on signal timing and so-called beg buttons — signals that require pedestrians to push a button to get a walk sign — on Oct. 17.
“It’s important that we reset the conversation around traffic safety,” said Messinis, who previously acted as project manager for the bike network. “We’re all traffic. This isn’t necessarily about a war on cars or taking away anything from anybody, it’s about recognizing that we all have somewhere to go. Ultimately, we just want to make our streets safer for everybody.”