The city's special services and access committee is concerned about pedestrian and motorist safety around the Plaza 88 development.
Coun. Betty McIntosh, who chairs the committee, said committee members have voiced numerous concerns about safety issues around the McInnes Street overpass and Carnarvon Street perimeter of the site. The committee recommended that city council ask staff to investigate significant improvements to the intersection of the McInnes overpass and Carnarvon Street by whatever means necessary to improve the immediate safety of pedestrians.
"Safety of all," McIntosh said. "It's not just pedestrians."
McIntosh believes that enforcement may be needed because she's seen and heard about many potentially dangerous situations caused by jaywalking in the area.
"They wander across the street wherever they feel like it," she said. "Pedestrians are not adhering to safe walking practices."
In addition to potentially causing accidents, McIntosh worries they could be putting their own safety in jeopardy.
"You can't fix broken bones as easy as you can fix a fender on a car," she said.
The committee discussed the issue at its February meeting. Staff informed committee members that some of the construction issues around the site will be resolved in the spring as construction of the commercial component of The Plaza is completed.
