Second opinion on curb extensions doesn’t change plans

Downtown curb extensions were back as an issue before North Battleford city council Monday and a second opinion doesn’t seem to have changed plans to have them installed.

In response to an inquiry from Councillor Kelly Hawtin, city administration had sought a second opinion about their plan to install curb extensions downtown. Concerns had been raised from local residents that proposed curb extensions at the Capitol Theatre corner would make it difficult for traffic to turn right off 100th Street toward Battleford.

In response, the city engaged Urban Systems, a consulting firm, to do computer modeling on what to expect with the curb extensions. That report is now in.

Director of Planning and Development Jennifer Niesink told council models run with various sized vehicles at a novice-driver level found a full-sized pickup could make all the required turns and turns towards Battleford could even be made with a school bus or full-sized vehicle.

Niesink did note that you can’t make turns at that location with a semi or a long camper. “But you can’t do it now, either, so that movement will continue to be restricted,” she said.

Signage at the location already prohibits right hand turns by semis.

The city did look into whether there was a way to accommodate those larger vehicles. An alternative was to remove the median and put a stop-box in at the location up the hill, coming east. That would force vehicles to stop further back and leave room for semis or campers to turn into the other lane.

But Niesink didn’t recommend it, noting stop-boxes are not well observed in winter months and, moreover, the corner is pedestrian-focused with theatres, hotels and a national art gallery in proximity.

There were questions and concerns raised by councillors about the curb extensions elsewhere downtown.

Councillor Len Taylor noted he had heard from school bus drivers who noted the 101st Street drivers “don’t know how to deal with a school bus stopped at the stop sign, because there’s not enough room for a car or truck … to turn without tapping, bumping a mirror or a part of the school bus. School bus drivers are saying it’s happening all the time.”

“People can’t figure out a way to turn the corner without causing, perhaps, grief,” said Taylor. “We haven’t addressed that.”

Niesink responded that under this model there should be room for the school buses to maneuver. It was also pointed out the width of the driving lanes has not changed.