The City of Nanaimo has received a Vision Zero Road Safety Grant to support adding a new raised crosswalk to Townsite Road. Approval of this funding will leverage a City-funded project to establish a new pedestrian route linking the new crosswalk to École Quarterway, a French immersion school in Central Nanaimo. These projects align with Vision Zero’s mission to eliminate serious injuries through proactive infrastructure improvement and will significantly improve pedestrian safety for both school children and the broader community.
École Quarterway is a French Immersion school which serves more than 400 students, from age 5 to age 13. The school is located on a busy collector road in Central Nanaimo, and has limited on-site space for pick up and drop off. As such, many caregivers pick up and drop off children on the north side of Townsite Road. There are no marked crosswalks on Townsite Road, and sidewalks are incomplete on the south side of the road, leaving pedestrians to navigate gravel shoulders, parked cars, or informal pathways.
This area experiences a number of traffic safety issues including driver speeds exceeding 50km/h; erratic driver behaviour including U-turns and inappropriate stopping; and car-centric road design that encourages speeding and does not communicate to drivers that they should expect pedestrians. These road safety issues are amplified given the prevalence of vulnerable road users in this area. Children are some of the most vulnerable road users, as they do not have the life experience necessary to anticipate driver behaviour or gauge vehicle speeds. The Royal Canadian Legion Branch 256 adjacent to École Quarterway serves a large membership comprised of many seniors. Despite being significantly vulnerable to traffic safety issues, both children and seniors are disproportionately likely to depend on walking as their primary mode of transportation. With higher density residential in the area, a range of essential services nearby, and further growth expected in the coming years, the need for a crosswalk at this location will only increase.
Photo source: AdobeStock. Photo is shown for illustration purposes only and may not be an accurate representation of the project.
