Wednesday, 5 September 2012

Safety Issues Compound Each Other

It's been a while, but here is an email that I just sent to Council. Also, the questions that were asked at the last meeting have not yet been answered, it shouldn't take an entire month to answer them. According to Council, they are addressing the questions today at the Council meeting.

Anyway below is the email that I just sent to Council.

Council,

It is unfortunate and disappointing that you have now poured the curbs for the angled parking. You have had opportunities since March to correct this safety issue, but now it comes at a greater cost to make the right decision, you'll have to remove the curb that has already been poured. However, now is still not too late to make the right decision but if you leave until the project is finished, then the project to fix the safety issue will cost the tax payers significantly more. 

Another issue that is becoming more and more of a concern for the safety of Tavistock Residents is the intersection of downtown Tavistock. The intention was to make it safer for everyone, but it has done quite the opposite. Now, in order to make it through the 10 second lights, people are racing through yellow and red lights, because otherwise only one truck or two/three cars can make it through. From what I gather that decision was not made because of any study or actual issue, but rather it was done because someone thought it would be a good idea. You should (or have the authorities responsible) return this intersection back to the way that it was until you can have a study done to come up with a safer solution, because what we have now is MORE dangerous.

What is interesting about these two points is that the project to change the lights was done out of a concern for safety when there was not a safety issue. Then the angled parking project was conjured up to address a need for more parking when there is not a need for more parking. What's more is that these two projects together compound the two safety issues into a much greater issue. Vehicles racing through the lights towards the Mill, Medical Clinic, Arena, or School will do so right through the path of cars backing out blindly into those racing to get through the lights. Additionally, this is all going to happen right beside the sidewalk (with no curb) where most children from Tavistock walk to school. Give it some more thought, this summer you have constructed a perfect storm of danger on Maria street. Now is the time to correct this issue. 

Furthermore, right now with the construction on Maria street still going on, children have to navigate missing sidewalks, construction vehicles and other dangers on that street. The timing of that project could not be any worse, you'd have been better to wait until the spring for that project.

Please correct these issues by fixing the lights and removing the angled parking. 


Regards,
Jon Ross
A Concerned Tavistock Resident

1 comment:

  1. Excellent.
    Council does not care.
    They would only make changes after a serious accident.
    Bob Routly

    ReplyDelete

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