Council backs proposed crosswalk improvements

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This article was published 04/03/2024 (481 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A Steinbach man’s quest to improve safety at a pair of local crosswalks was endorsed by city council on Feb. 20.

Bob Barrow has made it his mission to add rapid flashing low level pedestrian crossing lights to the Main Street crosswalk between the Mona Jodoin Law Corporation office and Quality Details, as well as the crosswalk on Brandt Avenue between the Steinbach Bowling Alley and Bistro and 7-Eleven.

Barrow began his quest after eight-year-old Surafiel Musse Tesfamariam died while crossing a lighted crosswalk on Winnipeg’s St Anne’s road in February of 2018.

Since then rapid flashing low level pedestrian crossing lights have been added.

Barrow has been communicating with city council and other levels of government since then, but the issue took on new urgency for him when on Dec. 15 he witnessed three young girls attempting to cross the Main Street crosswalk.

He said three vehicles stopped but the fourth drove right through.

“The fourth car didn’t stop but the girls had just stepped off the median at the time,” he said. “We could have lost three kids in a matter of seconds had the timing been different.”

Barrow told council that Winnipeg has found success with rapid flashing low level lights.

“Right now at those two crosswalks they have high yellow flashing lights,” he said.

He reminded council of an incident where a pedestrian was hit at that location three years ago because the sun was in the driver’s eyes.

“The low level lights would get those lights down to about seven feet,” he said. “They’re very difficult to miss. They’d be on both sidewalks and in the middle of the median.”

Barrow referred to repeated conversations he had already had with councillors on the subject.

“I understand that council is in favour of this and that’s why I’m here tonight, to make it official and I just hope that good things come from it,” he said.

Mayor Earl Funk also referenced Barrow’s persistent advocacy.

“Bob has been emailing me off and on for a while on this,” he said. “I thought it was time to bring him to a council meeting and present in front of us and see if there’s something we can do.”

Council agreed to make a motion to produce a letter supporting the idea which will be sent to Manitoba Infrastructure.

Coun. Michael Zwaagstra made the motion, saying he appreciated Barrow’s presentation.

“Obviously this is not directly within city jurisdiction because this is a provincial highway, but I think that by the city adding its voice to the request and letting the province know about it and also the fact that this will get into the news, I think those are all good ways of adding profile to the request,” he said. “Obviously we want to have the safest crossing possible and if the province is able to make these types of changes, think this would be very positive.”

Coun. Bill Hiebert agreed, seconding the motion.

“We’ve talked many times and you’re not giving up and I think this is a good cause,” he said to Barrow. “We want our students to be safe. We want these crosswalks to be safe so I totally support this letter.”

Funk also expressed his support.

“I think this is probably a good way to add another layer of safety at these crosswalks,” he said.