EAST CENTRAL — Eight east central communities have received funding from the provincial traffic safety grant to help communities manage speed, improve school zone safety, and install pedestrian crosswalks throughout the region.
These include Lanigan, the RM of Tisdale, LeRoy, the RM of Connaught, Kinistin Saulteaux First Nation, RM of Porcupine, RM of Moose Range, and the Village of Englefeld.
The grant is awarded to communities twice a year using a portion of the proceeds from the Photo Speed Enforcement (PSE) in the province.
"The Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant program is incredibly important in funding projects to improve safety on Saskatchewan roads," said Don Morgan, the minister responsible for SGI. "I'd like to thank all communities for applying, and for the work they do to reduce traffic collisions, injuries and fatalities in our province."
Since the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund was established in 2019, a total of 407 community traffic safety projects have now been funded, totalling nearly $5 million.
Lanigan
For the Town of Lanigan, the “Light the Way for Pedestrians'' project was funded for $37,740, which includes the purchase and installation of solar powered street lights to reduce the risk of potential collisions and improve safety for vulnerable road users. It is expected to be completed by the end of 2022.
Kelli Timmerman, Lanigan’s administrator, said the lights will be installed on the pathway between the hospital and golf course along the treeline.
“It’s dark over there, there’s no streetlights in that area because there’s no residential in that area,” Timmerman said. “The importance is the safety for the pedestrians and just being able to see. Hopefully we will get some additional pedestrians walking that route.”
Englefeld
For the Village of Englefeld, the “Crosswalk for Pedestrian Safety” project was funded for $16,981, which includes installation of pedestrian crosswalk signs at the school zone to improve safety for vulnerable road users. The project is expected to be completed by Sept. 30.
Kinistin Saulteaux First Nation
For the Kinistin Saulteaux First Nation, the “Wēwēni Asawābam Apinōcīyag - Slow Down and Watch for Children” project was funded for $9,009, which the installation of speed display signs to prevent collisions at school zone and other high-risk areas in the community. It is expected to be completed by Aug. 31.
RM of Porcupine
For the RM of Porcupine, “Grid Road 678 Digital Speed Signs” project was funded for $8,820, which includes the installation of speed display signs to prevent collisions around Grid Road 678. The project is expected to be completed by May 31.
RM of Tisdale
For the RM of Tisdale, the “Speed Control Phase II” was funded for $7,491 which includes the installation of speed limit and display signs to prevent collision, injuries and improve traffic safety. The project is expected to be completed by May 31.
LeRoy
For the Town of LeRoy, their “Speed Management” project was funded for $6,254, which includes the Installation of speed display signs to improve safety for vulnerable road users. It is expected to be completed by May 1.
RM of Connaught
For the RM of Connaught, the “Safety for Bridge Crossings” project was funded for $5,671, which includes speed limit and other traffic signs to prevent collisions and injuries and improve traffic safety. The project is expected to be completed by Oct. 31.
RM of Moose Range
For the RM of Moose Range, the “Thunder Rapids Speed Management” project was funded for $4,900, which includes the installation of speed display signs to improve pedestrian safety. It is expected to be completed by June 1.
Eligible initiatives
Eligible traffic safety initiatives (including projects, equipment, programs, and public awareness) must focus on one of the specified priority areas including speeding, impaired driving, distracted driving, occupant protection and intersection safety.
Submissions were evaluated by a PSE Committee made up of representatives from the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association, the Saskatchewan Association of Rural Municipalities, the Prince Albert Grand Council, the Saskatchewan Association of Chiefs of Police, the Ministry of Justice, the Ministry of Highways, and SGI.
