LETTER FROM JOHN LINDSAY POINTS OUT AN EXAMPLE OF THE PROBLEMS WE FACE IN OUR CITY Attlee Street Example of Wasted Tax Dollars A recent report from the city traffic and roads dept. gave questionable figures relating to the effectiveness of the over $300,000 traffic calming project on Attlee Street in New Sudbury, in much the same manner they reported the value of the failed traffic calming efforts on Southview Drive a few years ago. In what some consider a “rigged” survey of area residents in 2011 they were basically given the option of bike lanes or curb extensions at intersections to supposedly slow and therefore calm traffic. Residents chose the latter as they were told they could not park on the street in bike lanes. However, they were not advised of “edge lines”, which are in effect bike lanes without the bike symbol markings which allow parking, and are acceptable to cyclists. Attlee had been identified as a corridor, in the City Sustainable Mobility Plan, that should have dedicated on-road lanes for bicycles. The roads dept. circumvented this recommendation to achieve their preferred goal of a construction project. Ironically, there are now actually “edge lines” between the curb extensions at intersections, but the subsequent narrowing of the roadway at these points is a hazard for both motorists and cyclists. The cost for edge lines along this entire route, which would have allowed safer cycling and permitted on street parking, would have been approximately $5,000. The $300,000 plus dollars spent on Attlee could have gone to providing bike lanes and edge lines and cycling infrastructure throughout virtually all of Greater Sudbury, as advocated by the Sustainability Mobility Advisory Panel of the city and the Cyclists Union advocacy organization, both groups that have been consistently ignored by the roads dept. Is city staff interested in saving taxpayer dollars or in creating work for themselves and contractors? Bike lanes and edge lines are now being extensively used in Thunder Bay with the result of a significant reduction in both cycling and motor vehicle accidents where implemented. This alone is more than enough reason to consider this option for Sudbury, and the cost savings compared to the expensive construction methods the roads dept. advocates make the argument even more persuasive. All Sudburians recognize the need for good roads and required repairs, however, question if our road dollars are being well spent. Do we need to spend a quarter of the roads budget on new construction when there is pressing need for repairs to current infrastructure? Some projects seem like “make work” such as curb replacement on the Kingsway. Many have also questioned the need for expanding two lanes to five on Second Avenue, and of course there is the Maley Drive project that will drain millions from the budget to build and maintain, again of questionable value. We urge all candidates in this election campaign to carefully consider the “sacred cow” of road work in our city and whether the needs of all our citizens are being realized particularly pedestrians and cyclists. The motor vehicle may be “king” but the peasants on foot and cycle deserve equal if not more consideration as do all taxpayers as we examine every area of expenditure to achieve maximum value in creating a better affordable quality of life for all residents of our city. John Lindsay See in attached picture how curb extensions “squeeze” motorists and cyclists at intersections on Attlee Street as result of $300,000 traffic calming project. Bike lanes or Edge Lines alone would have cost $5,000 and provided a safer corridor for cyclist and also promoted traffic calming for motorists.
Posted on: Wed, 24 Sep 2014 01:10:14 +0000
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