Councilor Crystal Froese brought forward a motion to the city council last week to consider installing traffic or pedestrian lights at the intersection of 9th Ave NE and Thatcher Drive.  

Froese said in her remarks that the traffic in that area has just increased in recent years.  

“We have three hotels up in that area now and have a fourth one being put in. We have two very busy fast-food outlets, and it is a very busy intersection for pedestrians,” says Froese. “I’ve seen it a few different times as I travel that route quite often that groups of people coming from the hotels get stuck at the four-way stop.” 

She asked that council consider adding pedestrian or traffic lights at that intersection into their 2023 budget deliberations. Currently, that intersection has a four-way stop.  

Following Councilor Froese’s presentation council voted 5-2 to have the administration explore the possibility of pedestrian lights and/or a crosswalk and present the project during budget deliberations.  

Councilor Dawn Luhning says she doesn’t think that with the already tight 2023 budget, council would be able to add pedestrian lights at that intersection right now. She went on to say that she thinks that currently, the four-way stop is working quite well. At this time, Luhning voted against the motion.  

Councilor Heather Eby wanted to wait until the city’s transportation master plan has been updated in 2023 until she made her decision, but for right now she, like Luhning voted against the motion.  

Bevan Harlton, the city’s director of engineering says that he has a group preparing to issue a request for proposal for the 2023 master plan, and could provide a recommendation by the end of next year.  

“This will include corridor studies and downtown parking studies and all of the things that I need to give myself ammunition to respond to requests like this and determine if the work is warranted,” explains Harlton.  

The city’s transportation master plan was last updated in 2012.  

As that intersection continues to see an increase in traffic, for the time being, Froese recommended adding pedestrian lines or a crosswalk, as a cost-effective alternative until the project can be discussed further.  

“I’m mostly worried about pedestrians going across that intersection. We have lots of teams that stay in those hotels and make their way across to Tim Hortons, down to McDonald’s and back and over to the Co-op. That’s just a really busy intersection.” 

City council will meet again for a regular meeting on Oct. 11