CS4PR Presenting Intersection Improvement Project to City Council

On Tuesday, February 13th at 7:00 PM , Complete Streets for Prince Rupert will be giving a presentation to City Council about our Intersection Improvement Project.  We will be requesting permission from the City of Prince Rupert to trial a short-term modification to one intersection with the aim of improving safety and comfort for all road users. 

All Regular Council meetings are open to the public and take place in Council Chambers on the second floor at City Hall, 424 3rd Avenue West.

For more information on this project,  come to City Hall and hear our presentation or click here. 

CBC Covers Complete Streets as 7 Pedestrians Hit at Prince Rupert Crosswalks in 2017

We're happy that the CBC has decided to cover the situation of the streets in Prince Rupert.

While, this article briefly describes  the 'complete streets' approach to making roads safer for all users, there is one point that could use clarification. 

It's written, "Lightfoot said his three key priorities for the city would be adding curb extensions, reducing speed limits through the downtown and adding separated bike or alternative transport lanes."

Lowering vehicle speeds is important for reducing the frequency and severity of crashes.  However, rather than reducing vehicle speeds by setting and enforcing lower speed limits, the most effective way to slow vehicles is to change the design of our streets.   "According to our review of available studies, emphasizing those with adequate methodological designs, modification of the built environment can substantially reduce the risk of pedestrian–vehicle crashes [my emphasis]."  

On complete streets, planning for safe and comfortable access for people who walk, roll, cycle, and ride transit is a priority, not an afterthought.

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/prince-rupert-complete-streets-1.4465821

Prince Rupert Media Highlights Need for Safer Crossings - Features Complete Streets

On November 29, 2017, Prince Rupert's local newspaper, The Northern View called for safer streets for Prince Rupert, where 10 pedestrians, including one fatality, were involved in vehicle-pedestrian crashes in 2017.   

The newspaper featured an editorial demanding curb extensions on 2nd Avenue West where 6 of the 10 crashes occurred. 

A nearly full-page article with video and interactive map of crash locations went into some detail about the crashes and mentioned the work of Complete Streets for Prince Rupert to make the city's streets safer.  “What we’re advocating for are their [sic] tried and tested ways to reduce pedestrian-related collisions. Those aren’t campaigns to influence behaviour through education but the best way to reduce these crashes is actually changing the ways our streets are designed. Changing the built environment in ways that slow vehicles, improve visibility and separate modes of travel, for example, sidewalks and separated bike paths.”

84.15% of people do not feel safe at crosswalks in Prince Rupert, according to The Northern View's Web Poll.

Tell Us Which Prince Rupert Streets are 'Dangerous by Design'

CS4PR is attempting an experiment. Call it crowd sourcing of information about points around Prince Rupert are particularly dangerous for people who walk, use wheelchairs, ride bicycles or drive.  We want to know which points around Prince Rupert are dangerous by design.

Please describe a location around Prince Rupert that you find hard/scary to navigate safely, whether on foot, rolling, scooting, cycling or driving. We'll try to compile this information, perhaps on a Google Map, and present it to City Council in the future to advocate for safer infrastructure. Here's an example:

"Anytime of day - the crosswalk from the Scotia Bank to Bargain store - when there are cars parked in front of Scotia Bank and you are driving west, it is almost impossible to see potential pedestrians ready to step off the curb. In the early evening with the sun in your eyes, it is even worse."

Please post your 'hot spots' on our Facebook page.

Thank you!

Media Release - Complete Streets Needed as Part of Mayor's Hays 2.0 Plan

Dear Editor,

Vehicle-pedestrian crashes and near misses happen too often on the streets of Prince Rupert.  Most recently, a pedestrian was struck on October 3rd.  Many people talk about feeling uneasy walking, cycling and driving here, especially in the dark, but also in broad daylight.  Everyone has a scary story to share and some of those stories end tragically.  We can change this situation.

People sometimes argue that crashes would not happen if everyone would just obey the law, use common sense, wear reflective clothing, etc.  However, according to the American Journal of Public Health, with the exception of campaigns directed at children, road safety education campaigns are ineffective.  On the other hand, changing the way we design our streets is HIGHLY effective in reducing pedestrian-related crashes.  Changes such as intersection bulb-outs, pedestrian-controlled intersections and protected bicycle lanes reduce pedestrian-related crashes faster, more effectively and for less money than campaigns aimed at changing people’s fashion choices.  Simple street modifications bring immediate benefits for relatively little money.

‘Complete’ streets are streets designed for all, ages, abilities and modes of travel.  On complete streets, speeding has come down by up to 75%, pedestrian-related crashes have been reduced by up to 80% and crashes that do happen are less severe for everyone.  Parents feel comfortable letting their children bike to school and into town; elders and people with mobility impairments can access sidewalks and cross streets easily; taking the bus is pleasant and convenient, and drivers get to their destination safely.

Mayor Lee Brain will be unveiling more plans for Hays 2.0 on November 22nd and he is inviting Rupertites to get involved.  Let's let the mayor know we need safer, more accessible and more enjoyable streets for everyone.

Chris Lightfoot

www.completestreetsforprincerupert.com

Complete Streets for Prince Rupert Featured in North Coast Review

One day after officially going online, Complete Streets for Prince Rupert received coverage in Prince Rupert news blog, North Coast Review.  We feel NCR summarized our project fairly well.  One correction of note, however: The author states "...[T]he group outlines how it is committed to undertake a comprehensive new Transportation Master Plan...."  This makes it sound as if CS4PR would be the group to write the new Transportation Master Plan (TMP).  However, this would not be the case.  Part of what we are advocating for is that the City adopt explicit Complete Streets language in its new TMP.  Professional urban planners and City staff would be responsible for writing this document.  Fortunately, there are many excellent examples of Complete Streets policies to borrow from in Smart Growth America's The Best Complete Streets Policies of 2016.

New Direction in Federal Grant Funding Friendly to Complete Streets Principles

Priorities for federal infrastructure grant funding will take a new direction, according to  the Honourable Amarjeet Sohi, the Federal Minister responsible for infrastructure and Communities.  Fortunately, this new direction appears favourable to building complete streets in Prince Rupert.

Grant applications that aim to achieve the following outcomes should be viewed most favourably:

1. Increase the rate of economic growth in an inclusive and sustainable way;

2. Improve environmental quality, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and increase resiliency of communities

3. Improve mobility in Canadian communities;

4. Make Canadian communities more inclusive and accessible;

5. Manage infrastructure in a more sustainable way. 

View our slideshow and learn more about how Complete Streets contribute to acheiveing the above goals in communities all over North America.

http://northcoastreview.blogspot.ca/2017/07/federal-infrastructure-grants-to-take.html