This week's batch of calls for public engagement includes new additions to Edmonton's Vision Zero Street Labs project, a housing survey in St. Albert, and one last chance to weigh in on the future of Gibbons amid an expedited viability review.
Edmonton has begun gathering information about traffic safety concerns in seven neighbourhoods until March 31. The city's Vision Zero Street Labs asks residents to populate interactive maps by marking intersections and streets with safety concerns, such as low visibility, speeding, and bicycle safety.
"Each Street Lab project is tailored to the unique needs of the community to creatively address neighbourhood traffic safety concerns," the city's Street Labs website reads.
The project is requesting input from residents in Abbottsfield and Rundle Heights, as well as Terrace Heights, in the east end; Lendrum Place and Argyll on the south side; and Casselman and McLeod in north Edmonton.
Traffic calming improvements in these areas could include curb extensions, centre medians, speed bumps, and two-stage crossings.
Street Labs began in 2021 as a group of community-led initiatives. The west-end neighbourhoods of Rosenthal and Westmount, south Edmonton's Avonmore, and Balwin on the north side were early adopters of the project.
"Street Labs before 2023 were primarily community-led with the process varying across neighbourhoods," its website reads. "The life cycles of these Street Labs did not follow the current steps or the documentation available to the public."
The five-step process, which is now completely overseen by the city, selects neighbourhoods in need of traffic safety improvements, engages residents, builds a plan, installs safety improvements, and assesses the installations for adjustments.
The predicted installation timeline for the seven participating neighbourhoods is sometime in 2027.
Curb extensions are one of the permanent traffic safety improvements installed through Street Labs. (Tim Querengesser)
Here are some other opportunities to provide input in the Edmonton metro region:
- March 21: The Edmonton Transit Service Advisory Board is coordinating a town hall with the Edmonton Association of the Deaf and the City of Edmonton's Accessibility Advisory Committee to gather input about accessibility improvements on Edmonton transit.
- March 23: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing to rezone some land for residential and recreational purposes.
- March 23: Strathcona County's Family and Community Services is holding an information session about developing a community foundation.
- March 24: Sturgeon County is holding a public hearing about closing and disposing of a section of Range Road 222.
- March 24: Parkland County is holding public hearings on redistricting a section of land from agricultural to commercial use and closing and selling a portion of road.
- Until March 25: Gibbons is seeking input from residents, property owners, businesses, and regional users amid a viability review that could lead to the dissolution of the town. There will also be a special council meeting on the budget on March 23.
- March 26: Edmonton is continuing its series of town halls for playground renewals with a drop-in event about Weinlos Park.
- Until March 27: Leduc County has launched its citizen satisfaction survey.
- Until March 27: St. Albert is seeking input on housing as it drafts updates to its land use bylaw to diversify housing options.
- Until March 29: Devon RCMP have issued a policing priorities survey.
- Until March 31: The City of Leduc has launched its annual budget planning and citizen satisfaction survey.
- Until April 10: Fort Saskatchewan is looking for input on a new land use bylaw and will be holding town halls on March 20, 23, 25, 30, and April 1.
- April 13: The City of Leduc is holding a public hearing on proposed amendments to the municipal development plan.
"Your turn" is Taproot's weekly collection of public engagement opportunities in the Edmonton region. Watch this space every Friday for opportunities to make your views known. If you know of a request for public input, send it to hello@taprootedmonton.ca.