Saskatoon city councillor proposes future intersection safety audits

A Saskatoon city councillor is hoping to take a much closer look at the safety of several busy intersections.

It comes after 33-year-old Natasha Fox was hit and killed on May 24 by a cement truck while cycling near the intersection of Wiggins Avenue and College Drive, across from the University of Saskatchewan.

“I know that the story around cycling in this area has been a topic for many years — more than a decade that I’m aware of — and I’m very familiar with it,” said Coun. Cynthia Block.

“I have been very much touched by the outpouring of emotion from people right across this city,” she added.

A Notice of Motion was then made near the end of Wednesday’s regular council meeting by Block, outlining four courses of action.

“(That) the administration commission a third party road safety audit at the corner of College Drive and Wiggins Avenue,” she began.

Her second proposal suggested that the 2023 operating budget transfer to the reserve for capital expenditures be reduced by $30,000, and reallocated to transportation to complete a road safety audit at that same intersection.

Block then asked that administration provide a transportation plan update, including the status of any connections bound by College Drive, including Clarence Avenue, Preston Avenue and 12th Street.

She also suggested the city potentially come up with a budget option for an annual road safety audit program in the upcoming budget.

Councillors will have the opportunity at a future meeting to ask questions, discuss and debate all four motions.