The City of Burnaby will spend $450,000 to install a full traffic signal at a notorious Cariboo Road crosswalk.
The city assessed the crossing at the bottom Cariboo Hill in November and determined it didn’t get enough foot traffic to warrant a light, but three crashes there over the course of four days recently have prompted an about face.
Fernanda Girotto, a 15-year-old exchange student from Brazil, was hit and killed at the crossing on Jan. 17, sparking outrage from residents who have warned of safety concerns in the area since 2004.
A cyclist was hit near the crossing the following day, and another pedestrian was seriously injured there in a hit-and-run two days after that.
Within days, the city rushed to install safety improvements, including a pedestrian-activated flashing light.
And, on Monday, city council approved a plan to install a full traffic signal.
The plan also calls for a bus stop on the east side Cariboo Road to be either removed or relocated closer to the crosswalk.
“There were tragic accidents that occurred at this crosswalk,” Mayor Derek Corrigan said, “and we’re doing everything we can to try to enhance the safety of this area and, as staff point out in the report, even though it didn’t meet appropriate warrants and it didn’t qualify for a full traffic light, it’s very important that we recognize the reality of the situation and the fact that there has been a series of accidents occur…”
The full traffic light will be installed this year, according to staff.
