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Council deems stylized crosswalks too costly to replace

October 26, 2023   ·   0 Comments

By JAMES MATTHEWS, LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

Orangeville will use means other than unique crosswalks to recognize community groups.

Council decided at its Oct. 16 regular meeting to celebrate various community groups and efforts without pavement markings. Stylized crosswalks are located at the intersections of Broadway and Mill Street, Broadway and Wellington, and First Street and Broadway. The markings celebrate the LGBTQ and the Indigenous communities.

Council will pay up to $5,000 to remove the deteriorating crosswalks, and future requests for special crosswalks will be denied.

In June, council was told that traffic and winter maintenance operations have taken a considerable toll on the markings since they were installed in 2021. It was determined that the markings could not be repaired to their original condition and that replacing them was the only effective way to continue with the display.

But, the cost to replace the crosswalks would run as high as $30,000, resulting in a service level change to Public Works’ 2024 operating budget.

“Even with ongoing replacement, the markings degrade quickly due to the volume of traffic travelling over the crosswalks,” staff wrote in a report to council. Because of this, the 2SLGBTQI+ and Indigenous markings are unrecognizable and do not reflect these groups appropriately and respectfully.”

Staff has been asked to look for different opportunities to recognize the LGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities.

The municipality will continue with familiar ways of recognizing groups and events, such as flag-raisings at town hall, council proclamations, and promotion through the new digital sign at the Visitor Information Centre.

Other means of recognition that could be suggested by groups, reviewed by municipal staff, and then presented to council include banners on the six street poles located in downtown medians; installing public art pieces; creating a physical space for community groups to safely gather and connect while accessing programming and resources.

“The opportunities to take a look at alternative ways to recognize the different community groups, I think, is a good recommendation,” said Councillor Joe Andrews.

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