Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Nov 03/99) - Look out city consultants, there's some new kids on the block.

More accurately, grades 7 and 8 math students from Ecole St. Joseph.

A math experiment also turned into a lesson on political lobbying for five of the students, who presented the results of a week-long traffic study they did on Range Lake Road to council Monday.

The study demonstrated something students and staff at the school have known for some time -- that the crosswalk in front of the school does little to slow down some drivers.

"We haven't got injured or anything like that," said student Gillian Rivers. "But cars still drive right by us even though they're only two feet away."

Keon Zhang said patience is the key to safety for students -- "The only thing you can do is wait a half an hour (for a break in the traffic)," said Zhang. "They just keep on going."

From Sept. 23-29, student volunteers from the two math classes came to school early and did traffic and pedestrian counts just before school started. They spent part of their lunch time doing counts and hung around after school to count cars and pedestrians right after the school day ended.

Statistics and data gathering is part of the math program, said teacher Merril Dean.

Traffic counts revealed an average of 547 cars passed over the crosswalk in front of the school in the mornings, 520 at noon and 244 at school closing.

More alarmingly, students counted up to 36 cars travelled through the intersection the crosswalk bridges while people were on the crosswalk.

Students concluded signage and lighting needs to be improved and suggested the city install a user triggered crosswalk warning sign.

Estimated cost of a user-triggered lighted crosswalk is $30,000 installed, said public works director Gary Craig.

The presentation convinced council the problem needed to be addressed.

"This is a situation where we're going to have to spend money because there are stupid people out there," said Coun. Robert Slaven.

"I don't doubt that there needs to be something done there," said Coun. Alan Woytuik. "I just wonder if (the user-activated lighted crosswalk) is the solution or we need a full-fledged traffic light."

Craig said he will be preparing a recommendation to address the problem. The recommendation will be considered by council during debate of the 2000 budget.