We own a business in Campbell Park that services clients around St. Albert. I am very pleased the city is attempting to improve the traffic situation. The idea of traffic calming is noble, but there is a long way to go to improve the driver experience.
In order to facilitate the moving of traffic through St. Albert off of the local roads and onto the collector and arterial roads, you need to make them the most expeditious way to travel.
Timing the lights on the main roads so that once on them traffic flows without stopping if drivers are travelling the posted speed will do several things.
It will encourage people to drive on them and get them off of the local roads.
It will encourage people to drive the posted speed in order to make the next light, thereby reducing speeding.
It will reduce idling at the lights, thereby reducing pollution.
It will reduce driver rage and running of amber lights. To be stopping so often is extremely frustrating. I often see people pushing to get through intersections as the lights change.
The other thing the city must do is change more lights to traffic controlled lights. Many intersections only need light control during peak hours.
Encouraging people to travel the speed limit by proper timing of the lights will likely cut into the revenue gained by photo radar, but the safety of residents and drivers it worth it.
I believe residents and taxpayers in the city would readily support hiring an experienced professional to set up the proper timing of the lights. It can be done. It would be money much better spent than painting intersections with art that is covered all winter long.
Sadly, from Campbell Park I can get to Christy's Corner at 137 Street and Mark Messier Drive quicker than I can get to downtown St. Albert. Slowing down the traffic is not the answer to controlling traffic and making St. Albert a destination.
Moving it quickly makes much more sense.
Ann Fulton, owner, Panaram Dental Lab Ltd., St. Albert
