The Town of Innisfail has crafted a brand new school bus loop proposal they say will correct many of the concerns they had with the original plan drawn up for Chinook's Edge School Division by Rob Rabinovitch of Edmonton-based Workun and Garrick Partnership.
At an operational services meeting held Oct. 3 town officials had a look at designs produced by the town's contracted engineer Ken Kendall before going on a field trip to the site.
“We went and looked at the property and then we went over to the Chinook's Edge School Division headquarters and spoke to Allan Tarnoczi, one of the assistant superintendents,” said Coun. Brian Spiller. “He was going to take it back and see if we could work something out.”
Council members had been unhappy with the original design, which would have sent buses down 42 Avenue, through what is currently playground space to the west of Ècole John Wilson Elementary School and out to 52 Avenue.
The town's proposal would create a “fly-by” approach that would see two lanes for buses, a pullout lane and a parking lane, along 52 Avenue, shifting everything else over.
“It was just an option,” Spiller said. “Maybe they'll go along with it, maybe they won't.”
Coun. Derek Baird said the tour was a good use of time.
“It was very worthwhile to go and do that,” he said.
Mayor Jim Romane said the plan was an improvement.
“It would make so much more sense than having a huge driveway that would cut the playground in half,” he said, adding it would allow for a new sidewalk along 52 Avenue. “Right now it's just a paved walkway. It would be a proper sidewalk.”
Under the town's plan, the existing bus loop would remain for parent pickup including parents of St. Marguerite Bourgeoys School students.
“We want them all in one spot,” said Spiller.
Carolyn Hugh, project manager with the Ministry of Infrastructure's capital projects division, said a good bus loop is a crucial part of the schools modernization project.
“It's a safety issue,” she said. “At the moment the parking and the pickup and drop-off for the students – for the younger students in particular – all come and go out of the same driveway and so there's quite a bit of confusion.”
This puts a greater burden on teachers as well, she said.
“Teachers spend a lot of time directing traffic at the end of the school day,” she said. “The two boards have been discussing this and decided they can share a bus loop.”
Rabinovitch and the board was to meet with Innisfail Director of Planning and Development Craig Teal on Oct. 23 to discuss the bus loop, with Hugh attending as an observer.
“We want it to work with street planning,” Hugh said. “We want it to work with the existing traffic plan and we want it to be safe for the kids.”
