The Society solicited the input of municipal election candidates with respect to their commitment to crosswalk and road safety. Following are two questions asked and the verbatim responses of those who replied.
1. Do you believe HRM crosswalks are ‘safe enough’? If your answer is ‘no’ what would you propose / support in order to make them safer? Are you prepared to increase budgets for improved crosswalk safety?
2. Do you believe HRM’s Strategic Road Safety Framework is appropriate, i.e. will be effective at reducing road fatalities and injuries in HRM? If not what would you do to make it so?
Mayor
Mike Savage
District 1
Cathy Deagle Gammon
District 2
David Hendsbee
District 3
Becky Kent
2. I do not believe that the Framework is appropriate at this point. I believe it need to be reviewed and challenged to have more streets being addressed are urgent for traffic calming measures.
District 4
Trish Purdy
Did not respond to the questions.
District 5
Sam Austin
Did not respond to the questions.
District 6
Tony Mancini
Did not respond to the questions.
District 7
Waye Mason
1. No,
we need to completely develop and roll out the Strategic Road Safety
plan with vision zero at its heart. I am support continued increase to project
budgets to incorporate crosswalk safety improvements in integrated plans for
complete streets and road safety..
District 8
Lindell Smith
Did not respond to the questions.
District 9
Shawn Cleary
1. No; fully develop the Strategic Road Safety plan, embrace vision zero. Yes.
District 10
Kathyrn Morse
Did not respond to the questions.
District 11
Patty Cuttell
1. No. As a candidate I have had the privilege of touring my district and talking to people about local issues. By far, one of the biggest issues is speeding and pedestrian safety. HRM crosswalks are not safe enough. After observing several problem crosswalks, I can unequivocally say that HRM must invest more in crosswalk safety. There are so many things that can be done to not only improve crosswalk safety, but also add fun and beautification to our neighbourhoods. And I believe we should not approve another development in Halifax without requiring slow street design be part of the project. It is a lot more cost effective to build pedestrian safety into new development than it is to retrofit them. There are also a number of high priority crosswalks that need improvement. Action should be taken immediately to remedy them. And slow street standards should be developed for the entire municipality, so when recapitalization happens, slow street elements can be added where needed.
2. Well, one thing — a framework won’t help if nothing gets implemented. Many of these things need immediate action. Let’s get going with the low-hang fruit while we work out some of the bigger issues. Analysis paralysis has plagued this initiative. We need to start acting and making sure resources are targeted to hotspots around the regional municipality.
District 12
Iona Stoddard
Did not respond to the questions.
District 13
Pam Lovelace
1. No, crosswalks are not safe enough. The low standards for pedestrian safety in HRM result in some school zones not even having a crosswalk. I’m in favour of implementing Vision Zero in HRM. It’s time to make injury prevention a priority.
2. No, it’s not enough. I am in favour of implementing Vision Zero in HRM.
District 14
Lisa Blackburn
Did not respond to questions.
District 15
Paul Russell
Did not respond to questions.
District 16
Tim Outhit
Acclaimed - questions not asked.