The Portobello South Community Development Association (PSCDA) has forwarded several critical amendments to the City of Ottawa following a public presentation of the Trim Rd. realignment plans held Nov. 29 at the Fallingbrook South Community Center. The PSCDA believes that, while the realignment plan is generally sound, some modifications are necessary to protect public safety
Steven Sauve, president of the PSCDA, said that he has zero confidence that any changes will be made based on any feedback from the community.
"At the open house, it seemed as if the engineering company had prepared answers ready for any comment from the community. The person I spoke with didn't even seem able to discuss any possible changes, and could only provide the prepared answers she was given," he explained.
He also said that he has not received any acknowledgement from the city to the written comments he provided.
"There was a tremendous amount of negative feedback from the community regarding the Jeanne D'Arc/St-Joseph roundabout. None of that resulted in any change, so I don't expect it'll change anything in this case," he said.
The PSCDA has expressed a strong concern that the roundabout will pose a safety hazard for pedestrians, particularly school-aged children walking from Cardinal Creek to schools in the Fallingbrook area.
"I have strong concerns about safety at that intersection with respect to school children crossing before/after school," said Sauve. "Drivers are paying attention to other cars as they enter the roundabouts. They are not paying attention to pedestrians, who don't even have the right of way."
"Also, teenagers do not always practice the safest way to cross the street. They either cross slowly, or take unnecessary risks crossing. Those two things combined give me the feeling that a tragedy will happen at that roundabout at some point."
That particular intersection sees a high volume of students due to its proximity with Beatrice Desloges and St. Peters high schools.
Sean Crossan, president of the Cardinal Creek community association, has a daughter who crosses there every day on her way to school. He says that it's important to note that these roundabouts are right in the middle of a residential community, not in the outskirts or in an urban area. Currently there are 3000 homes owners or 10,000 people that live east of Trim Rd. and need to cross Trim Road everyday for basic services, he said.
"If there is a pedestrian killed or injured on one of the residential roundabouts, there will probably be a major law suit against the City of Ottawa," said Crossan. "If disabled persons launch a human rights legal case, the CCCA will support them as we are now required to esnure accessibility to all at our outdoor rinks. Surely the City has this same obligation."
Crossan said he's done extensive research on the topic and found that in a study on Kitchener-Waterloo roundabouts, four kids were injured within the first 60 days after one was put in near a park and a highschool.
Crossan said that the Cumberland Community Association, Fallingbrook Community Association and French Catholic School Board, have the same stance.
The PSCDA has also relayed concern that the roundabout planned for St-Joseph Boulevard and Trim Road will not allow for the proper flow of East-West traffic during peak periods, such as afternoon rush-hour, when a large volume of cars can be expected to travel through the intersection along the North-South corridor.
The CCCA is taking aim at a different one located at Park 18-B/Trim Rd./future Frank Kenny Road.
However, Sauve said his feedback is not all bad. "Overall, I'm very happy with the design of the Trim Rd. realignment and especially the addition of some of the roundabouts," said Sauve. "Driving along Trim Rd. right now is extremely slow due to the number of traffic lights, so roundabouts will definitely improve travel time and frustration. It's only those two roundabouts that I think will be problems."
The various community associations are calling to have a signalled pedestrian crossing at Porotbello/Springridge/Trim intersection. Crossan estimates it would cost about $100,000 for a system like that to be put in. The City's budget for the Trim Rd. realignment is several million.
"Surely they can spare $100,000 with that kind of budget. I mean, what is the value of a life?"
Crossan said if the City fails to acknowledge their plea, further action will be taken.
