Fort St. John resident raises concerns about crosswalk on 100th Avenue

FORT ST. JOHN, B.C. — A Fort St. John resident recently wrote to council raising safety and accessibility concerns about a crosswalk at the intersection on 93rd Street and 100th Avenue.

One of the concerns Brittany Willson raised in her letter was the lack of lighting at the crosswalk.

Another concern was the curb does not have a dip for wheelchair users or those with strollers to get up onto the sidewalk.

“I guess I have a question as to why there would be a crosswalk with no curb cut in the first place,” said councillor Sarah MacDougall during council’s December 11th meeting.

“And second of all, wondering if there could be a lighted crosswalk put at this location.”

MacDougall said she drove by the crosswalk after reading the letter, noting there is signage but only the standard signs.

She added that getting to a lighted crosswalk is three blocks in either direction.

Deputy Chief Administrative Officer Darrell Blades said city staff had been looking at that particular crosswalk before the letter came in.

“We’re looking at the traffic numbers, we’re looking at the design,” Blades said.

He added the intersection being a T-intersection with four lanes of traffic causes problems, but staff is reviewing what style of crosswalk, such as lighted or not, should be implemented in that area.

Because the crosswalk is at a T-intersection with four lanes of traffic, city staff would also have to look at other similar crosswalks to see what style is needed at each.

He said in the New Year, city staff would be able to come back with more information, but early estimations of lit crosswalks were about $250,000 per crossing.

The full letter from Willson can be viewed below: