MURKY CROSSWALK PROCESS
Re: “Armdale death trap” (Jan. 15 letter). I fully support the concerns raised by H. Marriott. I was also distressed by Sarah Richardson being hit by a van at Herring Cove Road and Woodcrest Avenue in Halifax in December. She was severely injured, and her unborn twin babies were unfortunately killed. I share the grief for Sarah and her family. I understand there is a Gofundme page to help raise money for them.
I am pleased to hear HRM council has recently decided to install crosswalk lights at this intersection. But what will it take for other similar dangerous intersections, such as the Armdale Roundabout, to be treated in the same way?
Calling the Armdale Roundabout a “death trap” is not too strong a term for this set of intersections. As a pedestrian, I can see how dangerous crossing the five major intersections can be, and how alert each pedestrian or cyclist must be. There are no overhead traffic signals on any of these major intersections coming into the roundabout, even though there are rectangular rapid-flashing beacons at some intersections near the schools in the area.
I, too, was also almost hit by a speeding motorist over two years ago, and I still see how dangerous crossing these intersections are.
When I inquired of my HRM councillor about the status of crosswalk lights, I was told that even though HRM staff have been investigating this request for two years, it is only the traffic authority (and not councillors) under the provincial Motor Vehicle Act who can approve this installation and have it funded.
This seems like a classic “damned it you do, and damned if you don’t” situation. Who is the traffic authority and how are they influenced? And more importantly, what level of tragedy must occur before overhead crosswalk lights are installed.
How do we as citizens get the opportunity to ask them to approve the funding necessary to install the long overdue traffic crossing lights? What process are they following, and how can we clarify what will need to happen next? Action must be taken soon so unnecessary accidents, injury and death are prevented.
Ian Johnson, Halifax