Image Credit: Mel Rothenburger

By Mel Rothenburger

ARMCHAIR MAYOR

ROTHENBURGER: Another dangerous pedestrian zone on McGill Road needs action

Nov 25, 2019 | 5:20 AM

KAMLOOPS — THE DEATH OF A TRU EMPLOYEE when she was hit by a truck in a crosswalk near the university raised the issue of what can be done about the pedestrian death toll.

Tragically, there have been five vehicular deaths of people connected to TRU since the beginning of November. While only one of them occurred within the immediate vicinity of the university, everything possible must be done to avoid another in the McGill Road stretch that runs parallel to the campus.

The intersection near the main TRU entrance on McGill is one obvious area of concern (and so is the Summit Connector near that intersection) but a few blocks away there’s another spot waiting for a bad accident to happen.

That’s the one in front of the Tournament Capital Centre. Directly across from the TCC is a small commercial zone in which a restaurant, some shops and Insight Support Services, a school for special needs children, are located.

It’s a high pedestrian-traffic area in which speed and visibility have been concerns for quite some time. The parents of one of the Insight Support Services kids have started a change.org petition with a call to action.

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The petition proposes the creation of a school zone with proper crosswalks for students and the general public. A school zone would force a lower speed limit and increased signage. “Protect our children, community members, seniors and university students from preventable accidents,” it says.

The petition is aimed at Kamloops City council but the school board and TRU have a stake in this as well. Let’s hope they act.

Politicians often take action only when the public demands it. The more people sign the petition, the more likely it is something will happen.

I’m Mel Rothenburger, the Armchair Mayor.

Mel Rothenburger is a former mayor of Kamloops and newspaper editor. He writes five commentaries a week for CFJC Today, publishes the ArmchairMayor.ca opinion website, and is a director on the Thompson-Nicola Regional District board. He can be reached at mrothenburger@armchairmayor.ca.

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