This week we saw City Council debate a motion to stop work on the roundabout, which is part of the St. Anne St. realignment. I sat and watched the Council proceedings on this motion. Yes, I am geeky and watch such things because I care about the city I live in. The vote at the end was 4-3 against the motion.
The basis of the argument against spending the money on the roundabout seems to be the engineers got it wrong and that all we need is a stop sign. Why, because this was nothing more than a road to nowhere. The traffic does not merit it. We won’t need this for another 10 years so just put in a stop sign now. Yet what is the real problem with this motion? Though Coun. Sheena Hughes did make some important points in respect of some of the possible issues with St Thomas Street and the amount of pumping that is going on; I hate to say it but the argument fell flat. The motion was an attempt to look at being penny wise, but I am afraid they were being pound-foolish.
Roundabouts are the most effective method of moving traffic compared to stop signs, one only has to review an episode of Mythbusters, which concluded roundabouts are the best means of traffic flow. A Kentucky Transportation study readily available on the Internet concludes that there is increased safety, traffic calming as well as aesthetic benefits. A stop sign will not cut it – just ask the people who have to come through the Erin Ridge Drive and Erin Ridge Road stop sign.
They are indeed being pound-foolish. A case was not made with this motion because it lacked foresight. They are only looking at the short term, which inevitably leads to increased costs for the taxpayer. It seems all they want to do is save money now, and kick the can down the road. In time, they we will start saying, “Why did we not do this 10 years ago?” The effect of the motion is to pass the buck to a future council who will inevitably need to spend even more money.
Their argument is premised on the point that the roundabout is being built on maybes. They are suggesting there is nothing there now, so why build it. All the while forgetting that with the Grandin Development there will be increased traffic flow. The future needs of the area are staring them in the face. The future build out of the area long term is staring them in the face.
What I saw in the motion was a lack of foresight and grandstanding. Yes I want to see us watch our pennies with city spending, but we need leaders who will also have the foresight to look out for the needs of future generations. That is a true political legacy. When will we start electing those who have foresight?
Liam Connelly, St. Albert
