Image Credit: CFJC Today

By James Peters

Two & Out

PETERS: Whether they build a fence or an overpass, TRU and the City of Kamloops can’t wall off their relationship

Mar 1, 2024 | 12:30 PM

THE PROPOSAL FOR AN OVERPASS spanning Summit Drive and leading to the Thompson Rivers University campus is so old, it’s almost eligible to enroll at TRU.

It’s so old, I remember former councillor John O’Fee discussing how jaywalkers have to be sharper than other pedestrians because they don’t have the crosswalk to protect them.

And for as long as the idea has been around, people have had very strong opinions about it.

Certain former newspaper editors are adamantly opposed, calling it an unnecessary waste of money.

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$10 million is certainly pricier than some well-placed fencing might be — fencing that would force students crossing Summit to use the crosswalk at McGill Road.

However, walls and fences are almost always the ugliest form of infrastructure and could really bring an incarcerated feel to that area of Kamloops.

I happen to think the renderings of the overpass are bold and striking, and we need more of that in our public infrastructure.

It’s not those design elements, though, that have led to hard feelings between the City of Kamloops and TRU, each of whom are committed to funding 50 per cent of the project.

Rather, it’s the location. The city is steadfast on a spot close to the newly constructed East Village residence, while TRU has floated the idea of a spot much closer to McGill Road.

TRU brass appeared at council to answer questions this week, but that visit didn’t seem to move the project any closer to reality.

Both sides here have decent points.

The city says it has repeatedly commissioned studies on the best location, and those studies came to the same conclusion.

TRU, on the other hand, after experiencing several tragedies in the McGill Road area, says it wants to do the utmost due diligence before it commits.

Whatever final decision is made won’t be the end of world.

The worst outcome would be lingering resentment and friction between the city and TRU.

Neither of them are going anywhere and they both need each other.

This is just the latest in a long line of partnerships between the two, and there will be many more in the future.

It would be far better if the city and TRU can walk hand in hand. The worst walls to build would be the ones that wall off their relationship.

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Editor’s Note: This opinion piece reflects the views of its author, and does not necessarily represent the views of CFJC Today or Pattison Media.