Some residents are calling on the Town of Saugeen Shores to help make school zones safer.
A delegation to council’s committee of the whole from a group called ‘Saugeen Shores Safe To School’ looks at four schools in Port Elgin.
Project Coordinator Julia Suggitt says, “Safe to School started in the fall of 2022 after I noticed that my children’s route to school was becoming more dangerous than it had in the previous years.”
She explains, “On our walks to and from Northport Elementary School, we witnessed vehicles running red lights at the Highway 21 crosswalk. Students crossing at that same four-lane intersection sometimes unattended by a crossing guard an increase in illegal stopping and parking along the roadways leading to North Port and vehicles speeding and passing within that school zone.”
Safe To School shared some suggestions with council for the four schools they looked at, that include adding more sidewalks, making crosswalks brighter, restricting snow plow traffic during key times and creating safer parking situations.
For example, at École Port Elgin Saugeen Central they say the west side doesn’t have safe pedestrian access, and there are no sidewalks in other areas. They also note, vehicles park on both sides of the streets around the school, which means kids walk on the road between parked cars. The group’s presentation says “This situation is made even worse in the winter when there are snowbanks in the ditches and around the intersection.”
They also have some suggestions about more appropriate places to deposit plowed snow piles.
In other school zone areas they’re suggesting safer parking arrangements, yellow flashing lights around crossing areas, adding crossing guards at some intersections and suggesting various types of signage be installed to make drivers more aware of pedestrian traffic.
The group also reports, after meeting with Northport Elementary School reps there have already been some improvements.
The delegation was well received by councillors, with Mayor Luke Charbonneau telling group members, “We really look forward to working with you and giving due consideration to all of your recommendations.”