STILL WAITING FOR A CROSSWALK

I have written to the Mayor and councillors AGAIN about the supposed Crosswalk we were supposed to get on Geneva ST. See FEB 10 blog and newspaper article below. IT IS NOVEMBER and all we got was ONE caution sign and NOT in the area where most people cross. MY mother has lived in this area for over 60 years and she knows just as well as I do - MOST PEOPLE CROSS BETWEEN TED ST. AND GROTE ST.
NOT
North of Ted where a single lousy caution sign was installed.
The other day I happened to drive down NIagara St. north of Carlton where lo and behold
THEY HAVE 2 NEW crosswalk lights before Scott St. NOW HOW DID THEY GET THEM???? There are only 2 lanes to cross on Niagara St. AND there is NO where NEAR the population as on 4 lane Geneva ST.
I haven't rec'd any confirmation that the supposed crosswalk will even get installed.
Promises and more promises BUT NO ACTION. I am not happy.

NO CROSSWALK YET

Back in Feb. the city said they would be installing a crosswalk north of Ted St. on Geneva St.
It is now November and a caution sign has been installed in that location but NO CROSSWALK yet.
There has been a number of pedestrians hit by cars on Geneva St. in the Fairview Mall area. I wonder why we still don't have said Crosswalk?? I notice that Niagara St. now has two traffic lights between Scott and Carlton. HOW IS IT THAT WE CAN"T GET ONE???? So many other streets in our city have traffic lights, on demand crosswalk lights, etc. and often one right after the other!!
(4th ave, Scott St.) and in an area of heavy retail, restaurants, LCBO, sports parks, City workers, seniors, students and MORE - WE DON'T GET ONE!!!
This is a joke! THe city councilors and mayor (and their loved ones) obviously do NOT use this area or they would be quick to install a light for the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike.

City of St. Catharines to install long awaited pedestrian crosswalk on Geneva St. St. Catharines

Finally, some progress regarding the lack of safe accessibility in the Geneva St. Wood St. area of St. Catharines.
The city is installing an on-demand pedestrian crosswalk NORTH of Ted St. before Scott St. on Geneva St.
This is not my preferred location, as actual usage indicates the bulk of pedestrians, cyclists etc, are crossing between Ted St. and Grote St. Its the quickest route and avoids the unsafe traffic light at the entrance to the Fairview Mall. The St. Catharines Standard article (see photo) says,
"This intersection is a common spot for pedestrians to get hit by cars."

At least this new crosswalk is a start to a long haul advocating a safe environment for everyone who lives, works and uses the area surrounding and including the Fairview Mall Parking lot. I would like to see a CAUTION sign
"PEOPLE CROSSING". Think about it.
If there were this many deer crossing at this section of Geneva St. there would be a sign WARNING everyone that deer are crossing!!!
Lets do it for our community. Lets get a sign for pedestrians that cross at the most convenient and safe spot.

letter from accessibility coordinator City of St. Catharines

During previous discussions with Mr. Jacobson regarding installation of a pedestrian crossing on Geneva, improvements to the existing pedestrian crossing, alignment and sidewalk curb ramps at that signal located at Geneva / Fairview Mall were also reviewed. We both agree that improvements could be made at that location and that Mr. Jacobson will consider this aspect as well when planning pedestrian improvements in that area.

Further to the report to Council on February 1st that Mr. Jacobson sent to you, Council also recommended that Fairview Mall should be contacted and encouraged to ‘improve the walkable connections within the mall property’. Your advocacy on this issue, along with other expertise will further support this action.

Thank you.

Diana Lecinski
Accessibility Coordinator
Chief Administrator's Office
City of St. Catharines
50 Church Street, P.O. Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON L2R 7C2
905-688-5601 #1510

Caution people crossing

If the City of St. Catharines is not willing to install a traffic light or crosswalk at Wood St. and Geneva St. the least they could do would be to post Caution signs like this. The installation of an on demand crossing light north of Ted St. on Geneva St. will at least slow traffic down a little, but most pedestrians will not walk that far out of their way to cross Geneva St.
and as the newspaper said, "The intersection (traffic lights for Fairview Mall on Geneva St.) is a common spot for
pedestrians to get hit by cars". Obviously not a safe way to access the Fairview Mall.

crosswalk Fairview Mall Geneva St. newspaper article

Finally we are getting somewhere. Council has decided to put a pedestrian crosswalk north of Ted St. on Geneva St. which is not really going to help the problems pedestrians have accessing Fairview Mall from Wood St. and Ted St.
The City's Accessability Coordinator says "Pedestrians can cross Geneva Street safely at the traffic light which is located a very short distance south of Wood Street at the Fairview Mall entrance." I disagreed and as you can see by the photo caption in this photo
"the intersection is a common spot for pedestrians to get hit by cars" just what I've been saying all along.
I say we need caution signs at Wood St. and Geneva St. as people will still attempt crossing at that point then going north of Ted St. to a crosswalk.
It's a start, but we need more.

only crosswalk Geneva ST. FAirview Mall

OK,
so here is the crosswalk that is the only apparent "safe" way to get across Geneva St. to the Fairview Mall.
have you ever seen a crosswalk that t's to the other like this? that lane you see ahead is the turning lane at
the Fairview Mall.
The other photo is what is directly across from the Fairview Mall. Have a guess. How many vehicles exiting the
Fairview Mall are going straight through the light?? maybe 5 %???
Most traffic exiting the Mall is turning north or south onto Geneva ST. IT IS NEVER SAFE FOR THE PEDESTRIAN, esp. if they are elderly, disabled, with young children or a stroller, in a wheelchair.....
ANd we apparently have a LAW in Ontario re: ACCESSIBILITY !!!!

bus stop on Wood St.

Here's another issue on Wood St.
The bus stop is the pole and this is across the street from the gap in the only sidewalk on Wood St.
How comfortable would you be waiting for the bus on the street? Wood St. is a meandering road and
used as a shortcut for traffic from Geneva St. to Carlton St. Imagine waiting for the bus in the dark?
Where is the accessibilty that recently became law in Ontario? There are 2 seniors buildings, soccer field, ball diamond and public pool on this road as well as the City Parks and Recreation depot with all their trucks.
Safe and accessible?

The gap in Wood St. sidewalk

Another example of the unsafe gap in Wood St. Sidewalk. It is not that big a gap, but it requires pedestrians to go
onto the street to access the next portion of walkway.

Response from Mayor McMullen oct. 2009

E: wanted - crosswalk! PLEASE READ‏
From: McMullan, Brian (bmcmullan@stcatharines.ca)
Sent: October 9, 2009 7:07:49 PM
To: benita ann collini (benitacollini@sympatico.ca)
Ms. Collini,

Thank you for your email regarding the need for a crosswalk at Geneva and Wood streets. The city's transportation staff and studying the intersection and the request to have a sidewalk installed. It is anticipated the a report on the issue will be presented to council in the new year.

Best regards,

Brian McMullan
Mayor

City of St. Catharines
50 Church Street
Box 3012
St. Catharines, ON

905-688-5600 ext 1540
905-688-5955 (fax)

bmcmullan@stcatharines.ca

walkability

here's a link to a canadian website

Gap in Sidewalk on Wood St. City of St. Catharines