Pedestrian safety: Art Puddister to push for pedway over Topsail Road

The issue of pedestrian safety is again at the forefront of public discussion in St. John's, following the tragic death of a young student on Topsail Road a week ago.

And with the student population at schools along Topsail Road expected to increase dramatically in September, some are pushing for enhanced crossing measures, including a pedway near the intersection with Hamlyn Road.

• Bishops College mourns over death of Tristin Brown, 17

"We very concerned and focused on the issue of pedestrian safety," Sarah Colborne Penney, chair of the school council of Bishops College on Pennywell Road, said Monday during CBC Radio's Crosstalk.

The issue is expected to be on the agenda at Monday's regular meeting of St. John's city council.

Coun. Art Puddister, who chairs the city's police and traffic committee, plans to bring forward a motion that the city begin discussions with the provincial government and the Newfoundland and Labrador English School District.

"I'm prepared to make this a top priority for our committee," said Puddister.

Puddister believes a pedway — an elevated walkway over a busy roadway, similar to ones that already exist on Gower Street and Prince Philip Drive — is an "excellent idea."

"It's something we need to move forward on," he said.

The new Waterford Valley High is scheduled to open in September, with an estimated enrolment of 860 students. It's located just off Topsail Road, near the intersection with Hamlyn Road.

The new school will replace Bishops College and Booth Memorial.

An estimated 400 elementary aged students from Paradise are also expected to attend the nearby School for the Deaf in September as part of a plan to address overcrowding at Holy Family School.

This is in addition to other schools in the area, including Hazelwood Elementary and Beaconsfield Junior High.

With so much additional pedestrian traffic in the area, Colborne believes it's important to take action.

"We don't want to see another tragedy happen," she said.

Puddister agrees.

"I believe we need a three-way approach, with the province, city and district to move forward with pedway," he said.

Puddister said it may be necessary to position crossing guards at the intersection in the fall.

Meanwhile, observers are also raising concerns about the traffic light configuration at some intersections in the capital city.

This follows the death of Bishops College student Tristin Brown, 17, on Topsail Road at about 4:35 p.m. on Feb. 9.

Police say the teen was walking across Topsail Road towards Forbes Street when he was hit by a vehicle turning left from Hazelwood Elementary School. He died in hospital the next day.