Three girls dash across the street to beat traffic at the intersection of Bronson and Arlington avenues.
With the City of Ottawa seeking public input on Bronson Avenue reconstruction, the Dalhousie Community Association says pedestrians are “risking their lives” daily to cross the intersection of Bronson and Arlington avenues.
DCA president Eric Darwin sent a letter to city council on Nov. 6 urging the city to install traffic lights at the intersection as part of the upcoming Bronson revamp and Somerset Coun. Diane Holmes is backing the DCA’s suggestion.
“I’m with people walking in straight lines, not forcing them out of their way,” Holmes says.
Darwin says pedestrians, cyclists and wheelchair users are at serious risk crossing at Arlington and Bronson avenues where there is no crosswalk.
“You sort of hesitate, hesitate, hesitate and the traffic flow is unpredictable, so you’re not quite sure how much time you have,” he says.
“And then people hesitate when they get to the centre, which is then a fatal mistake.”
There is no place to cross Bronson between Gladstone Avenue and the Queensway and no one really wants to go along traffic-heavy Catherine Street, Darwin adds.
“It’s not a pedestrian-designed lane,” he says.
Nan Lisen, who works at an accounting firm located at the corner of Bronson and Arlington, says the intersection is pretty dangerous particularly after rush hour, when drivers speed up.
“I’ve been working here for three years and every couple of months, there’s some kind of accident,” says Lisen.
“There have been times where I’ve seen hit-and-runs because a lot of cars are driving pretty fast after rush hour,” says Lisen.
Lisen says he crosses the intersection regularly and tries to be careful. A traffic signal is a good idea, he adds.
Holmes says she gets complaints from not only the DCA but also from residents, business owners, cyclists and Glashan Public School, asking for a traffic signal.
A light at Flora Street, a block north of Arlington, was suggested but is among the T-intersections on Bronson, which does not allow for residents coming westward to go through Bronson in a straight way.
Holmes says crossing at Flora is still out of their way and crossing at Catherine Street is also far too unsafe for most people.
Some city staff say setting up a traffic light at Arlington is far too close to the Catherine Street light and will only slow down traffic but Holmes disagrees. She says other lights around that area are equally close.
A light at Arlington will work in conjunction with the Catherine light and won’t cause any long line-ups, she says.
Having two traffic lights close together hasn't been a problem for Bronson Avenue and Gloucester Street and Bronson and Laurier.avenues she says.
The idea is now being brought to the city’s transportation committee, says Holmes.
Cost is not a problem, she adds.
“Setting up a crosswalk is minor in terms of cost compared to underwater and sewer repairs and it is included in the cost of reconstruction,” says Holmes.
In recent weeks, the city has moved to implement a Safer Roads Ottawa Program, which involves several roadway projects all aimed at reducing fatalities on Ottawa streets.
City council has yet to confirm the project’s budget and an open house that was scheduled for Nov. 25 will allow groups to suggest such things such as traffic lights on Bronson.
The DCA is also working to get other streets, such as Gladstone and Primrose avenues, improved crossings.
“If people don’t ask for it, we won’t get it,” says Darwin.