The way some residents reacted during last week's public open house to address questions about the Main Avenue pilot project, one might be left with the impression news of the trial redesign to improve pedestrian safety through Sundre's downtown corridor had sprung clear out of the thin blue sky without any planning or consideration for the community's concerns.
Or that perhaps Alberta Transportation engineers and planners conspired in secret with local municipal officials to conjure up on purpose a diabolically disastrous project that will cripple the town, resulting in traffic chaos and gridlock during the summer months.
This, of course, could not possibly be further from the truth.
Here are the facts:
Following the 2008 Main Avenue reconfiguration that introduced four lanes, the community began expressing dire concerns about the extremely close proximity between pedestrians and massive industrial rigs. Those concerns never went away, and so began roughly a couple of years ago a process to engage Alberta Transportation, which owns the road, with the goal of finding a suitable local solution.
Part of the ensuing consultation process ó which included reaching out to industry stakeholders, local businesses and residents ó involved inviting a busload of Alberta Transportation representatives to personally experience walking the sidewalks along Main Avenue.
"I got them to walk from the Red Deer River Bridge down past the IGA along that sidewalk. At the end of that walk, they were convinced that we had a problem," said Angie Lucas, director of planning and operations, during an April, 2016 council meeting that was at the time reported on by the Round Up.
"Once they experienced that, they better understood what we were talking about when we were saying we have a serious amount of pedestrian safety here that is not good for the community, but also not good for economic development in the downtown. So from then on, we were on the same page."
That does not exactly sound as though Alberta Transportation's engineers, let alone local officials, embarked on some kind of dastardly mission to make our lives miserable.
Let's also remember that leaving the four-lane design unchanged was among the least popular proposals, while the three mini-roundabouts received the most support. Some people had hoped for a three-lane design with a back-to-back left turning lane, but that option did not come up as preferred by those who responded during last year's consultation process.
Yet despite all of these steps that have led to the impending deployment of the pilot project, a surprising number of residents seemed not only caught completely off guard but also dismayed and displeased.
Some folks label the trial project a waste of time, effort and money, and seem to prefer the idea of simply reducing the speed limit to 30 or 40 kilometres per hour. But the problem with signs is some drivers ignore them.
And enforcement's all fine and dandy, but let's face it: we can't afford to pay a peace officer, let alone a member of the RCMP, to stake out Main Avenue non-stop. Catching speeders is not their only reason for being.
Other residents complained about the potholes, which to be fair are most certainly a problem ó especially the rough patch of road on the outside lane coming out of the post office parking lot in an eastbound direction.
What a strange situation Alberta's NDP government finds itself in. Taking flack from conservatives left, right and centre over mounting deficits while still taking even more criticism from voters for apparently not spending enough.
Because that is what all of this comes down to ó money.
Would taxpayers enjoy seeing their dollars spent repaving Main Avenue this year, only to just a few years from now see the brand new road ripped right back up just to deal with aging and ailing underground infrastructure? Extremely doubtful.
The municipality hopes to again work collaboratively with Alberta Transportation for the road's reconstruction so that both the underground services and Main Avenue's surface could be done at the same time, saving big bucks.
But unless some benevolent philanthropist bestows the province and municipality with tens of millions of dollars, that project is a little further down the road, if you'll forgive the pun.
Meanwhile, at least an attempt is being made to mitigate the more immediate concern ó pedestrian safety.
If nothing else, at least that resonated with Sundre residents such as Annette Rose, who is keeping an open mind about the temporary redesign.
"I don't think I would make a judgment until I see how it works, because I'd have to experience it. You have to go into something new like this with an open mind, and if you're dead set against it initially, and that's your mindset, it's not going to work for you," she told the Round Up during the open house.
This reporter could not agree more.
