Editor:
There has been much gnashing of teeth recently about the redesign of Canmore’s main intersection at Bow Valley Trail and Benchlands/Railway Avenue. If one were to rely on letters to the editor, it would seem that this project has been a failure.
I respectfully disagree.
It’s time to present another side. Personally, I compliment the Town of Canmore and its team on an innovative system that puts the priority on pedestrian, child and cyclist safety. An extra minute of delay is well worth the price, both for a safer experience and to encourage more people to use alternative forms of transit. Objections include:
Inability to see the signals.
This is a non-issue. I watched vehicles in each of the turning lanes inch ahead, but all drivers were able to see the lower right or left turn signals. I saw no vehicle during those periods go ahead of the straight lane signal lines. Go count for yourself.
Signal stop lines pulled back from the intersection create a safe zone: everyone can see the signals and cyclists or pedestrians. This aspect of the design is brilliant.
Right turns forbidden on red.
Illegal right hand turns: Not common at all. The current setup makes it infinitely safer for pedestrians and cyclists.
Has anyone noticed that when the pedestrian or cyclist signals have not been activated, the right turn signal for vehicles turns green sooner? This improves the flow.
The right lanes are too short.
Sadly, there is limited space for longer right turning lanes. Railway tracks and commercial spaces preclude this.
Two straight lanes leaving downtown, only one entering.
The downtown core simply cannot accommodate the extra traffic that would enter if there were two lanes in that direction. There will be congestion in one place or the other.
Longer delays in all directions.
The reality is that Canmore is suffering from an overdose of tourism traffic. And if nothing was done, it would get even worse.
Overall, the current design has encouraged more people to use alternative forms of transportation and alternate routes. This, and other initiatives have gone a long way towards creating a far more user-friendly environment for pedestrians and cyclists.
Many thanks to the crew at the Town of Canmore for doing their best to create an intersection that is safe for all.
Peter Lemieux,
Canmore
