City needs $45 million to upgrade crosswalks

Of the 380 crosswalks in Edmonton needing $45 million in upgrades, 70 crosswalks are considered a high priority.

The numbers are set to be presented to the city’s community public services committee Monday, after Coun. Bryan Anderson asked about crosswalk upgrades and how much can be funded from photo radar.

For 2017-18, council approved funding for 15 pedestrian amber flashers and pedestrian-actuated signals per year.

Upgrading the 70 priority locations would cost $8.5 million. On top of those 70 crosswalks, other enhancements over a three-year period — such as curb extensions, medians and lighting improvements — would cost an estimated $500,000.

Council directed $7 million into pedestrian safety infrastructure from 2015 to 2018. About $4 million remains unallocated for 201718, Gerry Shimko, Edmonton’s executive director of the Office of Traffic Safety, said Thursday.

An additional $4.8 million from photo radar funds hasn’t been earmarked for any spending.

How crosswalks are chosen for upgrades has been rejigged with the 2016 Vision Zero initiative, the city’s plan for zero traffic fatalities and major injuries.

For example, crossings across a left-hand turn path are three times as likely as others to be a place where a pedestrian gets hit, Shimko said.

The city also factors in traffic volumes, how many lanes pedestrians must cross, if a median exists, the posted speed limit, whether there is left-turning traffic and pedestrian activity.

The highest protection for a crosswalk is where a button is pushed and it changes the traffic lights to red in both directions. At the second highest level of protection, flashing amber lights notify drivers of a pedestrian crossing.

“The city auditor is presently doing an audit review on pedestrian crosswalks and they’ve started the process,” Shimko said.

He estimates the auditor’s report will come back in June.

The crosswalk improvements would be done over the next two to three years, depending on council’s direction, Shimko said.

Council would have to ratify any additional use of money from the traffic safety funds, or from other sources.

DAVID BLOOM City administration has put forward a list of 70 priority crosswalks out of 380 that need improvements, including this one at the intersection at 101 Street and 105A Avenue. A report is slated to go before the community and public services committee on...