Sundre residents expressed mixed feelings towards a Main Avenue pilot project proposed by Town of Sundre officials during an open house at the community centre on Oct. 8.
A pilot project is planned for the spring of 2015 where temporary barriers will be placed along the outside lanes on Main Avenue, from Centre Street to 4th Street, to reduce the four-lane roadway to three lanes.
The two outside lanes will be designated traffic lanes and the middle lane will be a full-time turning lane, according to officials.
The two-hour open house included a presentation and a chance for residents to ask questions or provide comments. More people attended the open house than town officials had expected, and people were lined up out the door to express their thoughts on the project, both positive and negative.
Grant Frasier said he is in support of the pilot project and believes it will create a “nicer feel” to the town.
“I think the town needs to somewhat rebuild itself and start to create some more dynamics and expand and bring some life to it,” said Frasier, adding he has lived in Sundre for three years.
“I'm quite looking forward to it.”
Susan Blatchford has lived in Sundre since 1984 and said she was against the project before attending the meeting, but after hearing the presentation, believes something does need to change.
“I was totally against it before I came. I agree they need to do something for pedestrians, but I don't know if that's the solution,” said Blatchford.
“I think there still has to be truck flow. Truck flow is huge – traffic is huge. We all remember what it was like when it was backed up here and no one wants to see that again.”
She believes the pilot project should run from Centre Street all the way west to Sobeys.
Town officials have been working with Alberta Transportation and the Sundre & District Chamber of Commerce on the pilot project.
Officials say the main reason for the pilot project is to create a safer place for pedestrians on Main Avenue. Officials plan to “beautify” the curb extensions with shrubs, flowers and trees.
But during the open house, some residents asked why town officials would spend money on planters and trees for a pilot project.
Residents also expressed concerns with traffic backing up on long weekends, widths of lanes, and barriers being too close to corners.
Other concerns included who would have the right-of-way in the middle designated turning lane, and a common concern was how the change would impact the trucking industry.
Residents who attended the presentation filled out surveys, and Alyssa Campkin, chairperson of the town's Corridor Enhancement Committee, made note of the concerns.
“Let's think of the positives folks, instead of getting hung up on the negatives,” Mike Beukeboom, president of the chamber, said during the open house.
Residents expressed concerns with the 50 kilometre an hour speed limit on Main Avenue, but officials said Alberta Transportation officials turned down their request to reduce it.
However, officials believe the traffic will slow down by using traffic calming measures.
In recent weeks, Beukeboom visited businesses in the pilot project area asking for signatures in support of the project. He said he received 100 per cent sign-up from the 29 businesses he talked to.
He has also been in discussions with local trucking companies and says they are in support of the project.
Officials believe Main Avenue has become an unsafe place for pedestrians since Alberta Transportation officials changed the two-lane avenue to four lanes about six years ago.
“It is absolutely absurd that someone is walking down the road and inside of 24 inches a truck mirror passes by your head going anywhere from 40 to 60 kilometres per hour,” said Beukeboom.
“Those outside lanes cannot handle the big truck traffic and they are constantly breaking up. That creates another safety hazard and that's road debris flying off the road.”
There have been two cases where rocks have flown through windows of businesses on Main Avenue, and people have been hit with debris, mud and water when walking down the street, he said.
Sundre council recently granted $25,000 to the town's corridor enhancement committee to hire a consultant to create blueprints for the pilot project.
Once the plan is completed, council will have final approval before it is presented to Alberta Transportation. Jon Allan, the town's economic development officer, says the goal is to present it to council in November and send a formal application to Alberta Transportation in December.
“We will support this pilot project. We do intend to monitor the impact on traffics to determine if this is something that could be permanently implemented,” said Nancy Beasley Hosker, spokesperson for Alberta Transportation.
“Moving from pilot to permanent would depend on impact to the traffic flow, congestion and increased delays, as well as an assessment on the safety aspects for all highway users.”
