A few weeks ago I sent a letter to the District of North Saanich about a controlled crosswalk on West Saanich rd. at Munro, that had a control on only one side:
Dear Mayor and Council,
I am writing to express concern about pedestrian safety at the crosswalk at the intersection of West Saanich Road and Munro Road. I am a resident of North Saanich and a parishioner of Holy Trinity Anglican Church, and I regularly walk in this area.
West Saanich has fast-moving traffic and limited visual cues to alert drivers to the presence of pedestrians. The current crosswalk does not have a control button on the water side, and as a result, vehicles frequently fail to slow or stop. This creates a dangerous situation for residents and visitors attempting to cross.
I urge Council to prioritize a safety review of this intersection and to take prompt action to install a pedestrian control button on the water side of West Saanich Road. Proactive intervention now would demonstrate a commitment to public safety and help prevent accidents.
Thank you for your attention to this matter. I would appreciate being informed of any next steps or timelines for reviewing this crosswalk.
Sincerely,
Stuart Mackinnon
It was placed on the agenda of the next Council meeting and then I received a reply from District staff saying they would look into it. Today as I drove by I saw a new control had been installed. Advocacy works!
If you have a concern, don't be afraid to contact your Mayor and Council.
