LETTERS – If TRU students won’t use crosswalk, they won’t climb to overpass
Summit and McGill. (Image: Google maps)
Earlier today, as I drove along McGill toward the Summit Connector, I saw three people standing on the traffic island, waiting for a break in the traffic so they could cross to the university. They appeared to have come from the student housing at the corner of Dalhousie and McGill.
The intersection with traffic lights and crosswalks was a short distance away, near the corner of the student housing building. My question: given that the City and TRU are determined to build a walkway over the Summit Connector to TRU, will we have to build something similar to deter people from jaywalking and standing on the traffic island on McGill at Dalhousie?
I find the notion that an expensive raised walkway is going to deter students from crossing on the roadway, laughable. If they are too lazy to walk to the crosswalk, I doubt they would climb up, then down, an overpass.
Surely a simpler, less expensive solution could be found. How about a barrier like Tranquille Road at NorKam?
MARILYN BROOKS
Complete wast of money. I watch the students jaywalking almost every day and nobody has died. The reason being is they know the consequences.
The overpass is all about what if? And of course people’s feelings. Reality is undefeated and the City of Kamloops is spending its way into oblivion just like the rest of the country.
EARL MILLS
ArmchairMayor.ca 
If only we could have a less expensive overhead path then both of these sides could have a happy compromise, something like tell TRU that whatever type of path they want is fine but we’ll only support it with 25% funding. We’ll spend far less money and we’ll have the active transport that so many want. I also think TRU will come up with a less opulent design.
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Just plant a tall pole in the middle of the road, put a 9 foot platform on either side, attach either a zip line or (my preference) ropes from the pole and have them swing across. It worked for Tarzan and it will work for the taxpayer.
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I have yet another o hear one word from Council about this being about anything other than a crosswalk for TRU students. It will be a huge waste of taxpayers money.
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The overpass is not really about TRU students but more about the active transportation plan to benefit the whole of the city. Despite the high cost I fully support this project. This project may well be coming with a fence to “force” those unruly students to use said overpass. There is just too much driving in this city and I personally would welcome a municipal tax on large SUVs and pickup trucks, especially the diesel ones. I would also welcome a toll on major arterial roads.
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What is good for the goose is good for the gander. Registration, Tolls, User Fees and Taxes on all forms of transportation. Including foot, cycle and EV. Unless we are all equal but some are more equal than others.
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Please tell us how exactly an overpass in this location factors into the transportation plan for Kamloops? What was the REASON for the fence along the CPR tracks on the north side of West Victoria. It was to stop people from crossing the CPR tracks and killing themselves. Why do people want to solve everything by throwing money at it? Build a fence on the east side of summit from McGil to Hillside. problem solved at fraction of the cost and more aesthetic as well.
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