Concerning the missing pedestrian walkway from Coldstream Dr. into the north east Oshawa SmartCentres plaza,
it seems time to involve some key people in this public safety issue.
I am hopeful Oshawa staff can arrange a virtual meeting with representatives from SmartCentres, Fieldgate, the Bloom, Maxwell Heights Secondary School, the Durham District School Board, Oshawa Mayor Carter, CAO Adams, and the Ward 1 Councillors, myself and John Neal to address this issue as soon as possible.
The timing is important as Oshawa’s 11 member Council will soon be voting on choosing between the 2 options contained in Report CO-23-28 whether to:
The proposed new PXO would be installed near the new Region Transit bus stops on both sides of Coldstream Dr. in front of the Bloom Residence and near the SmartCentres driveway.
There is a well-worn ‘desire path’ made by foot travel along the east side of the SmartCentres Coldstream Dr. driveway. Over the past decade with the record breaking growth in North East Oshawa each year the vehicle traffic and number of pedestrians crossing Coldstream Dr. at the Smart Centre driveway continues to increase.
Google map pictures below show the driveway in 2009 and in 2018. It seems SmartCentres would be aware pedestrians are using the area around the driveway for access to and from the plaza.
it seems time to involve some key people in this public safety issue.
I am hopeful Oshawa staff can arrange a virtual meeting with representatives from SmartCentres, Fieldgate, the Bloom, Maxwell Heights Secondary School, the Durham District School Board, Oshawa Mayor Carter, CAO Adams, and the Ward 1 Councillors, myself and John Neal to address this issue as soon as possible.
The timing is important as Oshawa’s 11 member Council will soon be voting on choosing between the 2 options contained in Report CO-23-28 whether to:
- Not install a Pedestrian Cross Over at the Bloom Senior Residence; or
- Install a new Pedestrian Cross Over (PXO) with push buttons and flashing beacons on Coldstream Drive near the Bloom Senior Residence (1224 Coldstream Drive). The estimated cost to install the new PXO would be $85,000.
The proposed new PXO would be installed near the new Region Transit bus stops on both sides of Coldstream Dr. in front of the Bloom Residence and near the SmartCentres driveway.
There is a well-worn ‘desire path’ made by foot travel along the east side of the SmartCentres Coldstream Dr. driveway. Over the past decade with the record breaking growth in North East Oshawa each year the vehicle traffic and number of pedestrians crossing Coldstream Dr. at the Smart Centre driveway continues to increase.
Google map pictures below show the driveway in 2009 and in 2018. It seems SmartCentres would be aware pedestrians are using the area around the driveway for access to and from the plaza.
Local governments, land planners and developers today in Ontario are to support the development of walkable and transit-friendly communities.
Yet at the Community & Operations Committee meeting this past Monday, May 15th, when City staff made a presentation concerning the 4 page attached Report CO-23-28, Oshawa Mayor Carter and the City Councillors in attendance were told that “SmartCentres does not want to install a pedestrian walkway along this driveway”. It seems this information was persuasive, as the Mayor and 4 Committee members then voted no to installing a new PXO at the Bloom Residence.
Before full Council votes on the PXO at the Bloom I believe it important a fulsome discussion takes place with the right officials concerning the missing pedestrian walkway along the Coldstream driveway.
Yet at the Community & Operations Committee meeting this past Monday, May 15th, when City staff made a presentation concerning the 4 page attached Report CO-23-28, Oshawa Mayor Carter and the City Councillors in attendance were told that “SmartCentres does not want to install a pedestrian walkway along this driveway”. It seems this information was persuasive, as the Mayor and 4 Committee members then voted no to installing a new PXO at the Bloom Residence.
Before full Council votes on the PXO at the Bloom I believe it important a fulsome discussion takes place with the right officials concerning the missing pedestrian walkway along the Coldstream driveway.
I write this with no disrespect to any City of Oshawa or SmartCentres staff involved in discussions to this point, but unfortunately as sometimes happens, it seems to me somewhere signals concerning what staff wants, what SmartCentres wants and what the public expects, may have gotten crossed.
I am hopeful a discussion involving other individuals at this stage may help make the reality of the situation clearer:
1. seniors from the Bloom residence,
2. students from Maxwell Heights high school and
3. residents walking west from their homes in the large and still growing Taunton Part II development around Grandview St N.
have been accessing the Smart Centre Plaza from the Coldstream driveway and they do not use the traffic lights at Harmony Rd N. and Coldstream Dr. since it is a longer and less direct route.
I and other Oshawa Council members, along with many Oshawans remain very concerned by the current unsafe traffic and pedestrian situation on Coldstream Drive. Both a pedestrian crossover PXO where many are crossing Coldstream by the SmartCentre driveway, AND a more direct accessible pedestrian walkway to the Plaza along the SmartCentres’ driveway is needed to avoid a tragic accident from occurring.
Irrespective of the traffic calming measures undertaken in the past 2 years, including temporary Radar Message Boards, a Community Safety Zone, and right-in-only vehicle access to the Coldstream Dr. SmartCentres’ driveway, the increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic safety problem continues to worsen, especially since the Bloom residence opened last year with over 200 apartments.
As I wrote recently on another public safety issue, Oshawans Care and Have a Voice. Please email both [email protected] & [email protected] to have your voice heard.
I am hopeful a discussion involving other individuals at this stage may help make the reality of the situation clearer:
1. seniors from the Bloom residence,
2. students from Maxwell Heights high school and
3. residents walking west from their homes in the large and still growing Taunton Part II development around Grandview St N.
have been accessing the Smart Centre Plaza from the Coldstream driveway and they do not use the traffic lights at Harmony Rd N. and Coldstream Dr. since it is a longer and less direct route.
I and other Oshawa Council members, along with many Oshawans remain very concerned by the current unsafe traffic and pedestrian situation on Coldstream Drive. Both a pedestrian crossover PXO where many are crossing Coldstream by the SmartCentre driveway, AND a more direct accessible pedestrian walkway to the Plaza along the SmartCentres’ driveway is needed to avoid a tragic accident from occurring.
Irrespective of the traffic calming measures undertaken in the past 2 years, including temporary Radar Message Boards, a Community Safety Zone, and right-in-only vehicle access to the Coldstream Dr. SmartCentres’ driveway, the increased vehicle and pedestrian traffic safety problem continues to worsen, especially since the Bloom residence opened last year with over 200 apartments.
As I wrote recently on another public safety issue, Oshawans Care and Have a Voice. Please email both [email protected] & [email protected] to have your voice heard.