PENHOLD - The Town of Penhold is asking Alberta Transportation to look into traffic concerns in the town.
"If we can't get the minister to come to us, we'll go to the minister," said Mayor Dennis Cooper. "We can show the minister the intersection and we can show him that area."
Penhold council discussed traffic safety at its first council meeting of 2017 on Jan 9, in relation to a traffic incident at a Highway 2A intersection involving a child last month.
On Dec. 19, an 11-year-old child was going to school and was struck by a car while walking through a crosswalk with flashing lights. The child was not seriously harmed.
Cooper said the town wants to emphasize Penhold's serious traffic issues with the minister.
"We're about to set up another set of these lights to go across Highway 42 because we have children crossing there," he said. "We have to continue to work with Alberta Transportation in a positive area. When it's dealing with public safety and children's safety, we're hoping that they're going to be responsive to that."
Several councillors noted the accident in their reports to council along with some of the concerns, questions and feedback they received from Penhold residents over the holidays.
"(People) want to set up some crossing guards (at the crosswalks)," said Coun. Cory Kingsfield.
Cooper said discussing the issue with parents, schools and children is an important step.
"We're trying to engage the schools. Coun. Yargeau is going to go to the school meetings and see what they have to say about (safety patrols or crossing guards)," said Cooper.
"We have to do a certain amount of enforcement and a certain amount of education with the kids," he added, noting that parent volunteers (crossing guards) at crosswalks may also help.
"If we have volunteers that want to go about and do that, it would be best coordinated with the school. If the town needs to give assistance, we're open," he said.
"We're saying let's get engaged and move forward with it."
Coun. Mike Walsh noted he took a lot of calls about the accident in December as well, while Coun. Michael Yargeau said this was an opportunity for the town to press for a meeting with the ministry about Penhold's traffic concerns. Coun. Julia King wants the town to write a letter to the ministry and put forth a motion urging council to take action and set up a meeting with the province.
"We have to have pedestrians and the driving public respect the rules of the road and make sure our children can cross those roads safely," said Cooper.
Mayor Dennis Cooper
"We have to do a certain amount of enforcement and a certain amount of education with the kids."
