‘It isn’t safe’: Saskatoon city council discusses West Industrial crosswalk
Global News
Coun. Hilary Gough said it will take at least one other budget cycle before the project can get started once everything is approved
A possible multi-use pathway and crosswalk near 19th Street and Avenue N South in Saskatoon is being discussed by Saskatoon city council as well as CP Rail.
Tuesday’s city council meeting saw a report given on the potential plan, but Coun. Hilary Gough said a project like this will take some time.
“Doing any sort of rail crossing is a bit complicated, it requires lots of engagement with rail companies,” Gough said.
She noted that many people cross those tracks in that area, adding that a school is nearby.
“Some residents in West Industrial brought up to me their concerns about the existing state of the crossing there. Nineteenth Street kind of dead-ends, and then on the other side (of the train tracks) is St. Mary’s School.”
She said there’s already some infrastructure in place to stop vehicles crossing at the intersection when a train comes through, but additional infrastructure would be needed for the pedestrian crossing.
Gough said it will take at least one other budget cycle before the project can get started once everything is approved, adding that it will depend on what the transportation council and city council’s priority list looks like.
The report to city council lists construction costs for the crossing at about $400,000, with an added $50,000 for a rail crossing safety assessment.