Sault city council looks for input on transportation from the community
The way Sault Ste. Marie's transportation system is envisioned is being reimagined.
“Most people do travel around Sault Ste Marie by car,” says Steve Turco, a senior planner with the city.
He says it is something the city is looking to change.
"A lot of that is because there isn’t really a viable or safe alternative to allow people to choose to leave their cars at home.”
The Soo Moves campaign is being influenced with feedback from a number of groups including the Sault Cycling Club.
Andre Riopel, the club's advocacy director, said there are changes needed from the ground up.
“The car comes first and then if there’s any room left over for pedestrians they might put a sidewalk on one side, and if there’s a little bit of room left we might put a bicycle lane on the other side,” he said.
“So it’s just flipping the cart on its head and giving the priority to pedestrians and cyclists.”
The campaign is aimed at learning where infrastructure improvements are needed for the safety and function of pedestrians and cyclists.
Riopel and the club have expressed their displeasure with the lack of bike lanes in the city's downtown and he said there also needs to be work done at major intersections that can be dangerous.
"We don't need to have every single street pedestrian friendly, but there are some that are actually really critical."
By visiting publicinput.com/SooMoves residents can complete a survey and add to a map of the area to show city staff exactly where they feel improvements are needed.
Turco told CTV News he is looking forward to hearing from the community.
“We understand that we have to create better connections to the west end of the community and also to the far east end of the community,” said Turco.
“We also want to look to see if there’s opportunities to create better connections to both Batchewana and Garden River First Nations.”
He added that they will be holding on-line and in-person discussions and are looking to hear from residents who aren't typically heard, such as the local homeless population.
Once consultation is complete, Turco aims to have recommendations on active transportation changes completed by the spring, awaiting approval from council.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer denied bail after being charged with killing Canadian couple
American millionaire Jonathan Lehrer, one of two men charged in the killings of a Canadian couple in Dominica, has been denied bail.
LeBlanc says he plans to run in next election, under Trudeau's leadership
Cabinet minister Dominic LeBlanc says he plans to run in the next election as a candidate under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau's leadership, amid questions about his rumoured interest in succeeding his longtime friend for the top job.
Grandparent scam suspects had ties to Italian organized crime, Ontario police allege
A group of suspects that allegedly defrauded seniors across Ontario and other parts of Canada using a so-called emergency grandparent scam appear to have ties to 'Italian traditional organized crime,' according to an investigator involved in the OPP-led probe.
Sports columnist apologizes for 'oafish' comments directed at Caitlin Clark. The controversy isn’t over
A male columnist has apologized for a cringeworthy moment during former University of Iowa superstar and college basketball’s highest scorer Caitlin Clark’s first news conference as an Indiana Fever player.
Trend Line Anger, pessimism towards federal government reach six-year high: Nanos survey
Most Canadians in March reported feeling angry or pessimistic towards the federal government than at any point in the last six years, according to a survey by Nanos Research.
BREAKING B.C.'s short-term rental regulations include $10K daily penalties for Airbnb, other platforms
Short-term rental platforms that violate B.C.'s pending regulations can face administrative penalties of up to $10,000 per day, officials announced Thursday.
Taylor Swift's new album allegedly 'leaked' on social media and it's causing a frenzy
A Google Drive link allegedly containing 17 tracks that are purportedly from Swift's eagerly awaited "The Tortured Poets Department" album has been making the rounds on the internet in the past day and people are equal parts mad, sad and happy about it.
Motion to allow keffiyehs at Ontario legislature fails
A motion to reverse a ban on the keffiyeh within Queen’s Park failed to receive unanimous consent Thursday just moments after Ontario Premier Doug Ford reiterated his view that prohibiting the garment in the House is divisive.
'Shopaholic' author Sophie Kinsella reveals brain cancer diagnosis
Sophie Kinsella, the best-selling author behind the 'Shopaholic' book series, has revealed that she is receiving treatment for brain cancer.