Cochrane councilor paves way for wider streets

A councilor for the town of Cochrane would like to make the community safer by increasing the minimum road width from 9 metres to 1.5 metres, a move which could impact the number of homes in new subdivisions.

Morgan Nagel presented a notice of motion at a council meeting in September, citing perilous conditions for drivers and pedestrians alike on current residential streets in Cochrane.  Nagel also requested that the motion be put forward to the Cochrane Planning Commission before further consideration before council.

Speaking to council on Sept 14, Nagel announced that many local roads in his town were too narrow and vehicles can’t pass each other in a proper manner, which he believes presents serious safety concerns, not only for vehicular traffic and pedestrians, but for emergency vehicles.

Nagel said the narrow streets present a challenge for fire trucks and ambulances to pass quickly through several Cochrane neighbourhoods. He admitted to the further challenge to developers, concerned with meeting density targets and keeping costs in line, and that finding that extra road width could take some work. He believes that any problems can be sorted out and solutions can be found.

The idea of widening roads in suburban areas is not a new one and has been previously presented to town council on a variety of occasions by Jeff Toewes and Gaynor Levisky, also councilors for the Town of Cochrane.  Nagel said he discussed the issue with his colleagues prior to the meeting.  He said the time was perfect to reintroduce the subject as there are no major subdivisions before council, waiting approval.  With no urgent motions, council has adequate time to thoroughly consider and discuss his motion.

Push back from developers is expected and from the Town of Cochrane’s point of view, it goes against population density targets established by the Calgary Regional Partnership.  His motion contains the proposal that wider roads could be possible by building fewer homes in future subdivisions or perhaps by paying sidewalks on one side of the road.  The last option presents a safety concern and it is one Nagel would rather not see.

Missing density targets should not be a barrier to his motion.  They are guidelines, Nagel told council, and are not legally binding, particularly since the Calgary Regional Partnership is not a government body.

Nagels’ motion was tabled pending receipt and consideration by the planning council.

A Case for Narrow Roads

According to the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), narrower streets and lane widths can help to manage speeds in urban areas, and that a wider street does not always mean increased safety.  Information on Urban Street Design suggests that the relationship between how wide the street is and vehicle speed can be complicated with many factors to take into consideration. That includes the time of day, traffic volume and even the type of driver behind the wheel.  A narrow road encourages lower speeds and therefore reduces the number and severity of collisions.  Other benefits include shorter distances to cross streets and less construction material.