DOT says pedestrians often ignore pedways
By SHAWN BERRY
berry.shawn@dailygleaner.com
Published Wednesday September 26th, 2007
Appeared on page A1
The Department of Transportation will talk to the City of Fredericton about the viability of setting up pedestrian overpasses for Route 8, but it isn't keen.
"We think our concerns about whether or not a pedestrian overpass would be used remain the same," said Department of Transportation spokeswoman Tracey Burkhardt on Tuesday.
Student leaders have pressed for a safer route across the old Trans-Canada Highway.
A report recently prepared for the city indicated an overpass between the University of New Brunswick and Skyline Acres would be the most feasible, and probably cost about $1 million to construct.
Route 8 is a provincial highway, and the city will be encouraging the province to consider such pedestrian overpasses as part of future work in the area.
But the province has seen less than convincing results from similar projects.
"Our experience with fencing and overpasses is that people don't necessarily use them even if it's provided," Burkhardt said.
Students in Riverview continue to run across a four-lane roadway despite the proximity of a pedestrian overpass the province provided near their high school.
"We have our experience with fencing behind the malls here in Fredericton. We fence it up and they cut a hole in the fence and keep on going."
While the department has its reservations about any such project, Burkhardt said staff members are willing to talk to Fredericton representatives.
Burkhardt said DOT hasn't seen a copy of a report prepared for the city that provides two options for each of three locations where pedestrian crossings might be considered.