A corner of contention and concern is among those under scrutiny as part of the McKenzie/Quadra plan, spurring passionate feedback from the community. At the edge of the plan lies the intersection where Cook Street becomes Cloverdale Avenue as it crosses Quadra, and hundreds of pedestrians face challenges crossing, including students and families headed to and from the nearby elementary school. It was already on the radar when a parent flagged the concern using an online petition, reaching out to the district in late 2023. Parents who use the route to walk to school reported several near misses and kids left in fearful tears. Since then, Saanich has tried some alternatives and implemented one safety measure, said Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff. The administrative traffic committee reviewed the intersection in 2023 and decided to investigate a couple of measures: the “no turn on red” and introducing leading pedestrian interval crossings on Quadra. These are steps Phelps Bondaroff calls “good first measures” that indicate how Saanich engineers explore solutions from different angles to develop a longer term plan. “That was reassuring for me,” he said. The leading pedestrian intervals, where crosswalk users get a head start before traffic, was introduced in early 2024 and remains in place. A preliminary review of the “no turn on red” from Cook resulted in significant backup on that street. “As a result, we have not implemented this feature but we have initiated a project, that is at the concept stage, that will further investigate improvements that align with the medium-term (active transportation plan) changes for Quadra Street,” staff said. The primary scope is to continue exploring pedestrian and cycling safety improvements. The extent of intersection upgrades would depend on further analysis and detailed design development. Should the project advance past the conceptual stage, construction would not start until at least 2027. It’s also a key consideration in the ongoing district plan for Quadra Street. The consultation process for the Quadra/McKenzie Plan has been a rollercoaster of iterations and feedback, Phelps Bondaroff said, noting it’s now in its fourth phase of consultation. While much focus has been on density, he does get emails about lane reduction, and limited feedback on safety issues, but the conversations are evolving. “Everyone has different priories, safety doesn’t come up as much,” he said. One reason might be regular ongoing consultations on road safety in other aspects of the district’s work. For the Cook/Cloverdale/Quadra intersection, proposed improvements include exploring options to realign the three intersecting roads to improve both connectivity and safety for all road users. In the draft plan, Quadra Street is set to be redesigned as a complete street with a focus on enhancing the active transportation network and public transit options. Future possibilities with BC Transit could see Quadra as a rapid transit corridor with dedicated transit stops in the village. Upgrades to Cook Street and Cloverdale Avenue would further bolster the active transportation network, providing safe and sustainable options for pedestrians, cyclists, and public transport users, according to the plan. Quadra improvements would include expanded sidewalks and vegetation buffers between sidewalks, bike lanes and streets to create a comfortable and safe environment for all transportation modes. Find the Quadra McKenzie Plan and opportunities for feedback online at https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/community-planning/centre-corridor-and-village-plans/quadra-mckenzie-plan.html [https://www.saanich.ca/EN/main/community/community-planning/centre-corridor-and-village-plans/quadra-mckenzie-plan.html].
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