New pedestrian walkways are prioritized in Central Saanich but one resident feels the lack of a complete trail on Mount Newton Cross Road is putting people at risk right now.
Karen Harris says traffic along the rural route has been increasing for years and with ongoing development in the District, itB次元官网网址檚 bound to keep going up. Walkers along Mount Newton Cross Road are at risk, she continued, because a trail was left incomplete 17 years ago B次元官网网址� with no sign from the municipality that the last portion, connecting to West Saanich Road, will be done any time soon.
Harris said she was recently forced to dive out of the way of a passing vehicle. This despite the fact that when she walks along the road she carries red flags designed to warn drivers that sheB次元官网网址檚 there.
B次元官网网址淲e have an ignorance of the fact that there is no shoulder shoulder. We have literally nowhere to go,B次元官网网址� Harris said.
Neighbour Karen Johnson added industrial traffic, too, has increased leaving little room for other vehicles, let alone pedestrians.
B次元官网网址淯ntil a year ago, I used to (walk) the entire valley once a day B次元官网网址� I donB次元官网网址檛 so that any more, itB次元官网网址檚 worth my life,B次元官网网址� said Harris.
The neighbours say the road is used regularly by cyclists, horseback riders and school age children.
B次元官网网址淢y boys B次元官网网址�. catch the school bus on West Saanich. It makes me nervous. ItB次元官网网址檚 early in the morning and there no side of the road,B次元官网网址� Johnson said.
Central Saanich Mayor Ryan Windsor said heB次元官网网址檚 aware of the safety concerns along Mount Newton Cross Road. That being said, he noted the municipality has a priority list of pedestrian improvement projects B次元官网网址� the top on the list being a trail along StellyB次元官网网址檚 Cross Road. would link StellyB次元官网网址檚 Secondary School with West Saanich Road and provide better safety for people walking between the District and the Tsartlip First Nation.
In July, a scooter user was struck by a passing vehicle, prompting more calls for safety improvements in the area.
Windsor said the District has a challenge in maintaining their split urban and rural community. While the more densely populated areas generally have sidewalks, the more rural areas may not. And since building new pedestrian routes can be costly, Windsor said Central Saanich has to prioritize based on available money or other pressing needs.
B次元官网网址淥ur highest priority is the StellyB次元官网网址檚 trail,B次元官网网址� he said, B次元官网网址渁nd we are still fleshing that out. We havenB次元官网网址檛 received any grants to help out B次元官网网址� but itB次元官网网址檚 an area with a higher, more urban population.B次元官网网址�
In addition to the secondary school, StellyB次元官网网址檚 Cross Road is also seeing from the Tsartlip First Nation, that will add to traffic and pedestrian safety concerns.
Harris added the traffic has changed the neighbourhood, with fewer people visiting each other by simply crossing the road or visiting each other on the side of what used to be a country road, she said.
Johnson said they understand that progress happens, but some sort of chip trail, a continuation of what the District started all those years ago, would keep people safe.
B次元官网网址淲e want it to still be a country road.B次元官网网址�
Pedestrian safety on rural roads is an issue for the District, Windsor agreed.
B次元官网网址淥ther areas, like near SassyB次元官网网址檚 Restaurant are also on the list,B次元官网网址� he said, adding the District has made improvements over the years, including the trails and bike lanes.
B次元官网网址淲e also do have to appreciate our rural areas. There is an interesting play between being partly urban and partly rural.B次元官网网址�
Harris isnB次元官网网址檛 holding out hope for any quick fixes along Mount Newton Cross Road. She said she reached out to the B次元官网网址 Review after reading about the StellyB次元官网网址檚 trail project. Both she and Johnson agree something needs to be done there, too, but hope that the District can make pedestrian safety issues, like theirs, more of a priority as the community grows.
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been a move-able target over many, many years,B次元官网网址� Harris said.
editor@peninsulanewsreview.com
