Recommendations from traffic study prove successful at a busy Whitecourt intersection

Whitecourt resident Mary Bauer sent a letter to Whitecourt Town Council for the Public Input Session of the October 12 Regular Meeting of Council. The letter expressed her gratitude for the traffic study completed at the intersection in front of her home, 55th Avenue and 47th Street.

Following a motor vehicle accident at the intersection, which left the Bauers with damage to their personal property, they requested something be done. To better understand the location and how drivers utilize it, the Town of Whitecourt did a study that resulted in several recommendations. “The town extended the no-parking zone along the 47th Street and 55th Avenue intersection to increase the visibility of the crosswalk and ensure that the stopping sight distances and turning site distances are maintained,” stated the letter.

The town also added pedestrian crossing signs, painted the corner curbs yellow, and placed speed radar signs just beyond the posted speed signs to bring attention to drivers’ speed on the road. “Since these changes have been implemented, I have noticed a significant change in the speed of drivers on this roadway. I myself also feel more confident when crossing the road in my vehicle due to the extra visibility with the no parking zones,” stated Bauer, adding that she and her husband are thankful for the changes.

She did, however, have one concern. “The radar signs will be on a temporary basis. This concerns me that drivers may resort back to higher speeds. I would like to request if possible for the speed radar signs to remain permanently as an official pedestrian crosswalk will not or cannot be implemented,” queried Bauer. She then thanked Council for taking their concerns seriously, noting that “my husband and I have been struggling with this intersection and seeking changes for many years.”

Mayor Maryann Chichak read the letter out loud to Council as the letter was received after the official agenda package had already gone out days prior. Deputy Mayor Schlosser asked Administration if the electronic signs that flash driver speeds are rotated from neighbourhood to neighbourhood or if they are used more on a need by need basis. “Do we have a schedule? How does that go?”

Town of Whitecourt CAO Peter Smyl said that the speed sign in question is used on a need-by-need basis. “I know that the Police Committee made a recommendation to do an education campaign, which was public information, do the improvements and then put the sign up followed by enforcement. The Police Committee has the ability on a case-by-case basis to do that. Maybe for now we go with the enforcement side, and then maybe the Police Committee can review the request and make a recommendation if they wanted to return it next year,” he explained.

Deputy Mayor Schlosser agreed with that. “I certainly don’t believe we can leave that up permanently because I don’t think we could afford to put one of those up in every neighbourhood, but I think if we did rotate that around that would be a good way of doing things.” Council voted unanimously to accept the letter as information and forward it to the Police Committee. Councillor Ray Hilts asked if the Bauers would be contacted afterwards. Mayor Chichak said that there would be follow-up through Administration or perhaps through the new mayor. “They could give Mrs. Bauer a call to let her know what direction is being taken from her letter and her concerns as a follow-up.”

When the study results came forward earlier this year, Michael Harper, Civil Engineering Technologist for the Town of Whitecourt, said they collected digital recordings of volume and speed travelled by motorists near the intersection. “We determined that both were very high, especially along 47th street. We also evaluated the geometry along the intersection and determined that we do have sightline issues, again, especially on 47th street due to on-street parking particularly.” He said that the level of service for motorists in the intersection is still ok and that physical measures are not yet needed, such as streetlights. However, he did recommend non-physical measures to change the sightlines and increase safety.

Non-physical measures, like Mrs. Bauer mentioned in her letter to Council, included pushing back the no-parking zone around the intersection by removing 10-12 parking spots. This move increased the visibility for motorists and pedestrians looking to cross through the intersection. Residents living in the apartment buildings that flank the roadway utilizing on-street parking are encouraged to park in the available parking spots in both buildings’ back alleys.