Street in front of Vanier school closes to traffic as pilot project begins

This morning and every Tuesday morning for the next three months, the road in front of an elementary school in Vanier will be closed entirely to traffic while officials gauge the impact of the pedestrian-only pilot project.

Alice Street in front ofcole lmentaire publique Trille des Bois,a school of about 620 students located afew blocks south of Beechwood Avenue, will be closed to motorists fromabout 8:15to 8:45 a.m. every Tuesday for the next three months.

This Tuesday morning, Ottawa police were on hand to close nearby intersections with their cruisers.

School and community officials say speeding is a problem on the street, as is congestion during the busy morning drop-off period when some motorists make U-turns and sudden stops.

"There are lots ofpedestrians and parents who take their kids there in a vehicle, which causes a lot of traffic to the point it causes a lot of concerns for parents," vice-principal Yolaine Brassardsaid in a French-language interview with Radio-Canada.

The city councillor for the area said it's time for the school community to reclaim the street.

"A parent came to me and said, 'I'm scared because kids will play in the street,' and I said 'Yes, that's exactly it: we want young people to play in the street before school,'" said Rideau-Vanier Coun.Stphanie Plante.

"We want the street to be for them, for pedestrians, for people who walk their dogs, for the neighbourhood."

Ottawa Morning7:24Street in front of Vanier school closes to traffic one morning a week

Alice Street in Vanier will turn pedestrian-only for about 30 minutes each Tuesday.

Gatineau trial last year

The pilot involves Plante's office, city transit staff, school officials and Ottawa police.

It follows a couple of one-off closures there, and asimilar trial at Gatineau'scole du Lac-des-Feslast spring.

"It really had a positive effect by encouraging drivers to change their habits. That's also the goal of a school street [project]," saidPatrick Robert-Meunier, executive director of non-profit traffic advisers MOBI-O.

He said anything that encourages people to walk or bike instead of driving is a health and safety success.

Plantelisted road safety as one of the top concerns she heard in the last municipal campaign.

She said a successful school street pilot could mean more permanent closures around more schools, though it may not be practical atschools located along busy arterial roads.