SUMMERSIDE, P.E.I. — Council is looking into the possibility of a four-way stop at the Maple Avenue and Central Street intersection.
Coun. Barb Ramsay spoke on the matter during Summerside's committee meeting at city hall on July 7.
She proposed the idea at the request of residents because of how busy the intersection is, how fast some motorists speed down Central, and how challenging it can be to exit Maple.
"That intersection is usually quite congested," she said.
Residents have been sharing their concerns with Ramsay since at least last year, as well as with Deputy Mayor Norma McColeman and Coun. Cory Snow as it's beside all of their wards.
It's also beside Leger Park, meaning there's a high amount of pedestrians crossing it.
"I definitely believe at that intersection something has to happen," Snow said.
Many councillors agreed it's an intersection they need to do something about but did't think it warranted a four-way stop.
Some were reluctant to support this proposal right away, namely because of how many vehicles use Central Street.
"We got to remember that it is a main arterie into the city," Coun. Bruce MacDougall said.
Coun. Justin Doiron wanted to have a traffic study conducted before considering a four-way stop, as the city shouldn't simply put stop signs down whenever residents request one, he said.
"The whole city would be covered in stop signs."
Ramsay reminded council that the same concerns and proposal were brought to them last year and that a study was conducted, which suggested the intersection didn't warrent a four-way stop. Councillors couldn't remember whether they discussed the study as a group or not.
McColeman suggested that rather than do a new study, council unearth's the recent one and looks it over at a future meeting, giving them time to think it over and hear from more residents beforehand.
"We got to remember that it is a main arterie into the city."
- Coun. Bruce MacDougall
Coun. Cory Snow noted that the intersection is where one of the city's new 3D crosswalks is being painted.
"I'd hate to have too many things happening at one intersection all at once," he said.
Installing a four-way stop there as well might make it harder to know how effective the 3D crosswalk is at slowing motorists down, Coun. Bruce MacDougall said.
Daniel Brown is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
