Moncton street where biking child was struck may get traffic-calming measures

CBC
·3 min read
Moncton city staff say they are looking at installing traffic-calming measures on Twin Oaks Drive potentially as early as this summer. (Mariam Mesbah/CBC - image credit)
Moncton city staff say they are looking at installing traffic-calming measures on Twin Oaks Drive potentially as early as this summer. (Mariam Mesbah/CBC - image credit)

Moncton is looking at ways to slow traffic on a north end street near where a student biking to school was struck Friday morning.

The crash led to the child being sent to hospital and on Monday prompted city councillors to discuss enforcement and road safety.

René Lagacé, Moncton's director of engineering, said in an interview after the council meeting that city staff were planning traffic-calming measures for Twin Oaks Drive before the crash.

He said staff aim to present options to council by late spring or early summer. While money hasn't been budgeted for that road this year, Lagacé said they may still find a way to make it happen.

"We'll see what the estimate [is], but in light of the recent events and the fact that it's a priority on the traffic-calming list, we're hopeful that we can potentially see some measures installed in the summer of 2024," Lagacé said.

Under a policy adopted last fall, traffic-calming measures can include raised pedestrian crosswalks and intersections, signs showing a driver's speed, physically narrowing the lane, and installing mini-roundabouts in intersections.

Councillors have recently approved roadwork contracts that include installing various traffic calming measures on Purdy Avenue and Pleasant Street.

Friday's crash happened at the intersection of Twin Oaks and Falcon as the student was headed toward Northrop Frye School, one of four schools in the north end. Traffic around Northrop Frye has been a longstanding concern.

The intersection of Twin Oaks Dr. and Falcon Dr. pictured late Friday afternoon. Codiac RCMP say a student was biking through the intersection when hit by a truck on the way to school.
The intersection of Twin Oaks Dr. and Falcon Dr. pictured late Friday afternoon. Codiac RCMP say a student was biking through the intersection when hit by a truck on the way to school.

The student was biking to school near the intersection of Falcon Drive and Twin Oaks Drive in the city's north end. (Mariam Mesbah/CBC)

Codiac Regional RCMP Supt. Benoit Jolette, responding to questions about the incident from Coun. Dave Steeves, said it happened near a crosswalk.

Jolette said no charges would be laid against the truck driver after police spoke to six witnesses.

Steeves, who said he didn't want to over-react to Friday's crash, raised the idea of re-establishing a local RCMP traffic enforcement unit.

"I know it's not just a Ward 3 issue, but it's all over our city," Steeves said. "I feel like we might be behind as far as regulating the speeds and all that sort of thing."

Jolette said that officers have monthly enforcement initiatives, such as a focus on crosswalks or cell phone use.

While he said the priority is responding to emergency calls, Jolette said most days Codiac RCMP assign one person to focus on traffic issues across Moncton, Dieppe and Riverview.

Jolette pointed out increased traffic enforcement was part of a 2022 request by the Codiac Regional Policing Authority for 25 more officers. That proposal was reduced to adding officers in 2023, with four more added this year.

Steeves said in an interview that he believes the request should be revisited.

"I think context is everything and it's a different year," he said.

"There's circumstances that have happened. We've seen continual growth again. And I think that council may have a different thought, and there may be a different outcome, if they were to come back with a larger or similar proposal."

He hopes to discuss the issue again when the city debates its 2025 budget in November.