Sask. Drive Corridor Project sent back to administration due to lack of consultation, safety concerns

City council approved the motion to move the evaluation of the corridor to the second quarter of next year, with a vote of 8-0.

Published Sep 15, 2023 • 3 minute read

Saskatchewan Drive, the focus if the city’s upcoming Sask Drive Corridor Project which seeks to transform the main artery road from McTavish Street to Winnipeg Street, shown on Monday, July 10, 2023 in Regina. Photo by KAYLE NEIS /Regina Leader-Post

After being in the works for four years, the Saskatchewan Drive Corridor Project has been referred back to administration after an unanimous vote from city council on Wednesday.

Two delegates spoke to the contents of the plan, raising concern that despite the cited commitment to encouraging other modes of “active” transportation like walking or cycling, the corridor design still focuses strongly on vehicular needs.

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Jonathan Lorenc, from the Cathedral Planning Advisory Committee, questioned if incorporating one-way bike lanes or a pedestrian sidewalk on the north side of the street will achieve the goal of “activating” alternate transportation options.

He said crosswalk infrastructure will be even more necessary to maintain the safety, which is at odds with other goals that posit Sask. Drive as a “key gateway” to downtown for motorists.

“Just this year, there have been multiple accidents on 13th Ave. (and Saskatchewan Drive),” said Lorenc. “One killing a member of our community and another crashing into infrastructure on an intersection that has high pedestrian traffic.”

Lorenc added that many businesses along the corridor depend of foot-traffic to get customers through the door, by adding a motor-vehicle-centred corridor, bars, restaurants and shops could be at risk.

He also speculated increasing pedestrian or cycling cross-traffic is likely to drive motorists to shift their habits to using other streets to traverse downtown, like 11th and 12th Avenue. This would put pressures on residential streets not optimized for that traffic volume.

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Coun. Lori Bresciani (Ward 4) said that there was a lack of engagement with those on Saskatchewan Drive.

“We want to make sure that we get it right,” said Bresciani, adding that a handful of business owners along Saskatchewan Drive came to council, saying that they were “not engaged.”

According to the report, engagement began in 2019.

Ward 5 Coun. John Findura proposed a motion that council refer the project until further consultation with landowners, stakeholders including community associations and the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District.

“I think we need to take a much deeper look a the corridor,” Findura told council. “We are building for the future.” Findura added that council should focus on “doing things right” the first time to avoid costs.

By speaking with local businesses, Findura said that many business owners along the proposed corridor are concerned about what the increased volume of traffic could mean for their future.

Initially, Wednesday’s motion sought for Design Regina, the city’s official community plan (OCP) be amended to include the corridor revitalization plan and its priories, as outlined.

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To do so also called for accommodations in the existing Downtown, Cathedral and Core Area Neighbourhood Plans, giving precedence to the Sask. Drive Corridor Plan where conflict arises in areas like zoning or development.

The current neighbourhood plans have “outdated policies” in relation to land use, multimodal transportation and public realm amenities along Saskatchewan Drive, said administration’s report.

The final draft, as presented, is to be a policy guide to direct infrastructure upgrades and position the corridor for future growth and engagement over the next 30 years.

Work on the Saskatchewan Drive Corridor Project was to start in 2024, beginning with Phase 1 of three, on the east end of the identified three-kilometre project zone.

City council approved the motion to move the evaluation of the corridor to the second quarter of next year, with a vote of 8-0.

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