By Thomas Smith

The proposed crosswalk on Bobcaygeon Road in Minden has become a point of contention for both residents and business owners.

Visiting several local businesses, it has become apparent that the proposed crosswalk project has not been clear to people from its debut to the public at the Minden Hills council meeting on Thursday, March 26.

Listed in the municipality’s agenda as a ‘crossover’ project, several people have been confused, assuming the project will be a bridge-like structure that is built over Bobcaygeon Road. This is not the case. The design meets up-to-date accessibility standards including studding, accessible sloping, and flashing lights to ask drivers to stop for pedestrians.

Mike Timmins, director of public works says that the crosswalk will be similar to the crosswalk currently located across from Archie Stouffer Elementary School.

Mike Timmins, director of public works says that the crosswalks in Minden no longer meet the modern standards for the modern day. Due to poor visibility and no lights, the crosswalks are both at bad intersections with lots of congestion.

Dennis Pennie, owner of Minden Auto Care and organizer for the Minden Business Working Group says that the organization was provided with information of the design three days before it was presented at the council meeting.

Pennie and other members of the group feel as though they were not given an adequate amount of time to provide their feedback on the project.

With it being professionally designed by Engage Engineering, people feel as though their input will not be considered this late into the project.

Timmins to clarify that the feedback spoken about at the March 26 council meeting has been heard from the engineering firm and they are continuously making changes as more input is brought in.

“The project is in design phase,” said Timmins. “Other changes can be made, if needed.”

Pennie says that he wishes for the next voted-in council to have more transparency with expensive projects like this one. With increased efforts to organize as local businesses to improve Minden, he feels there is still a disconnect between businesses and our representatives.

Like many Minden business owners, Mary Graves, of Little Beans Cafe, says that she was not aware of the project. After learning about the plans, she feels that accessibility is important for the community. While it can be upsetting for business owners to have reduced parking, she feels that there are many pros and cons of the project to consider. Most importantly, she wants clarity for the project’s timeline and does not want the project to impede seasonal summer traffic.

Timmins says that the project is expected to be completed in late summer to early fall of this year.

Shawn Chamberlin, of the Dominion Hotel has concerns that the crosswalk may become a dangerous situation for both drivers and pedestrians.

“We’ve been taught all of our lives to cross at the corner,” said Chamberlin.

With two parking spots being lost and four being converted to reserved accessible parking spaces, Chamberlain is concerned about the reduction of parking in the downtown core. He thinks that there is the potential for the council to regret agreeing to remove that portion of parking spaces.

He also brought up concerns of the new crosswalk interfering with snow removal, but Timmins has confirmed that the design will not interfere with snow removal and maintenance.

“I am all for safety and accessibility but there has to be a reasonability check,” said Chamberlin.

“I think that our current crosswalks fare very well. I have heard that we have an issue with speed. That isn’t fixed by adding a crosswalk.”

His back is up in the air with the township paying for engineered designs without the input of local businesses and public taxpayers.

Melissa Smith, of Stedman’s, says that there is a great need to improve accessibility of the downtown core. With the aging population of the county, she says that she has seen people fall off the curb of the sidewalk in town. Visitors would benefit from the accessible design.

Near Minden Auto Care, pennie says that the post office has one accessible parking spot and he feels that more can be added. At the intersections around Milne, Prince, and Water street, there is no indication of crossings for pedestrians. If visitors are expected to park in the external municipal parking lots, more attention is needed tot hings such as lighting and accessibility of the alley between Coneybeare’s and Ommmh…

Pennie says that four reserved spots right on the downtown strip would be too restrictive for visitors.

“Nothing can be more dangerous than that corner where CIBC is,” said Shawn Smandych, owner of Ommmh. “From listening to other business people, I have heard people say they can’t justify the losing of the spaces.”

Smandych says that he can see the vision with the crosswalk in the middle of town, but there are complications with drivers turning at the bridge.

“Being more towards the bridge and incorporating the bridge, turning, and crosswalk all at once would seem to make more sense to me.”

“We have to do something with that corner as it is,” said Smandych.

Smandych says that twelve years ago, there was talk about forbidding left turns from Water Street onto Bobcaygeon Road.

“The problem that came with that is, if you could only turn right and go over the bridge, every person will go across the bridge and make a u-turn.”

This would result in increasing traffic on the other side of the bridge, which is already compromised with heavy traffic.

His theory is that crosswalk traffic, turning traffic, and bridge traffic are all linked, with a solution addressing all three. Mary Douglas, of Let’s Get Local echoed the idea of a three-way stop by the bridge.

With her business located on Bobcaygeon Road, she knows too well that speeding is a common, dangerous occurrence.

“I think this process hasn’t been the clearest, in terms of the information that has gone out or the way in which it has gone out,” said Smandych.

Smandych questions justifying the cost of the project, when the money could go towards fixing up Water Street or Bobcaygeon Road.

“I think people would prefer to have those spots fixed, before we have our crosswalks fixed.”

“At this time, we are focusing on sidewalk improvements. Other accessibility upgrades will be discussed in the future,” said Timmins.

For now, Timmins says that the township does not plan on adding lighting or trying to improve the alleyway that connects the municipal lot to Bobcaygeon Road.

“It is moving very quickly without asking enough questions and really looking at it,” said Smandych.

Timmins confirms the commitment to add additional signage to promote both municipal parking lots in town. There are no plans to make other accessibility upgrades.

To have your opinion heard, Timmins requests people and businesses to contact the municipality through the municipality’s website mindenhills.ca and through their social media accounts @twpmindenhills on X, The Corporation of the Township of Minden Hills Facebook page, or @township_mindenhills on Instagram.