Changes to Chatham-Kent’s 12 school area crossing zones and elimination of the adult crossing guard program will be completed by the end of November.
Chatham-Kent council voted to spend an estimated $318,000 to install signal devices at locations in Chatham, Wallaceburg, Dresden, Blenheim and Wheatley.
Earlier this year, council voted to end the Adult Crossing Guard Service due to the estimated $5,700 annual cost per location and the difficulty in finding and maintaining staff.
A review, completed in 2013 and presented to council the following year was the catalyst for the change.
“In spite of ongoing recruitment efforts, the municipality continues to experience ongoing challenges recruiting adult crossing guards. In addition, there are days when crossing guards are unable to provide notice that they will not be attending for their shift(s). In these cases, the municipality is not able to provide sufficient notice to parents, which creates potential risk if a parent is anticipating that their child will have access to a crossing guard. The municipality has been working with the associated schools on an on-going basis to promote vacant positions, as well as to notify students and parents when coverage is not available (when possible).
In a report to council, it was noted that only 12 of 20 positions required for the September to November period have been filled.
Leanne Segeren-Swayze, Director of Customer Service Division for Chatham-Kent said the municipality is working to minimize impact in the community.
“We recognize the concerns in the community about the elimination of the Adult Crossing Guard Service and based on the comprehensive traffic study and subsequent recommendations, we were able to find a sustainable solution that promotes safe crossing at these locations,” she said in a press release.
A study during May and June of this year by the municipality’s engineering department measured traffic count and resulted in specific recommendations for each site.
In a report for council, Mark Ceppi, Engineering Technologist listed the changes:
Type B devices will be installed at the following locations:
- Talbot Street West at Little Street in Blenheim;
- Baldoon Road at Oxley Drive in Chatham;
- Lacroix Street at Alexandra Avenue in Chatham;
- North Street at Dresden Area Central School in Dresden; and
- Erie Street North at Richard Street in Wheatley.
Type B consists of poles on either side of the crossing with signs, audible pedestrian push buttons, rectangular, rapid-flashing LED beacons, and a sign mounted over the roadway, among other safety measures.
A type B will also be installed at the intersection of Murray Street and Reaume Avenue in Wallaceburg where an all way stop will be removed.
The crossing located on Stewart Street at Mable Street in Tilbury will be converted to a Type C
Crossing which is similar to B except that it does not require a sign mounted over the roadway.
Ceppi’s report also noted that school crossing signage and pavement markings will be removed at the following locations.
- McNaughton Avenue East at Country Lane in Chatham;
- Merritt Avenue at King Street West in Chatham;
- Erie Street South at David Street in Ridgetown; and
- Main Street East at Cecil Street in Ridgetown;
The signage and markings located in Wallaceburg on Lawrence Avenue at H.W Burgess School will be removed unless an agreement is reached with school officials to implement a School Child Safety Patroller continuously at the crossing.
Ceppi noted the municipality has notified the Lambton Kent District School Board and the St. Clair Catholic District School Board of the changes and provided information for the boards to distribute to students.
