A raised crosswalk on Dufferin Cres. at Waddington Rd. was given support from Councillors on Wednesday, one of three similar projects given the green light. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

By Alex Rawnsley

double benefit

‘Promote a walkable community:’ three raised crosswalks identified for Nanaimo

Jun 18, 2025 | 12:03 PM

NANAIMO — A trio of raised crosswalks are being planned for the coming years throughout different parts of the city.

Councillors, through their Wednesday, June 18 finance and audit committee meeting, endorsed improved intersections on Townsite Rd. at St. Patrick’s Cres., Waddington Rd. at Dufferin Cres., and Portsmouth Rd. at Applecross Rd.

City manager of transportation Jamie Rose said at the meeting raised crosswalks are becoming increasingly popular, citing multiple tangible impacts.

“We are finding more and more that not only do these create better pedestrian crossing opportunities, but have the secondary benefit of managing speed along each of the corridors.”

Townsite Rd. and St. Patrick Cres. is part of the 2025 Pedestrian Unallocated Budget, with both a raised crosswalk and lighting planned. (Alex Rawnsley/NanaimoNewsNOW)

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All three projects will cost $100,000 each, with money coming from the Pedestrian Unallocated Fund, which Council sets aside annually for crosswalk or road-related improvements for pedestrians.

Selection of the crosswalks was largely done through a City-designed scoring system which takes into account the geography of the intersection, vehicle volumes, pedestrian habits, surrounding infrastructure and transit availability.

Both the Townsite Rd. and Portsmouth Rd. intersections ranked high on the City’s scoring metric, with scores of 50 and 47, respectively, and were included in a staff recommendation.

The scoring system has a maximum possible score of 90.

Proximity to highly-used transit corridors, high traffic volumes and crossing distances were among the driving factors for the high score.

Briefly considered but ultimately decided against, a raised crosswalk was proposed for the northern side of Wallace St. at Franklyn St. (Jordan Davidson/NanaimoNewsNOW)

A third site, Wallace St. at Franklyn St. (scored 48), was recommended, but support for it was lukewarm among Councillors given the proximity of traffic lights a block away and another crosswalk already at the intersection.

It was removed from consideration for now by councillors, with all but Mayor Leonard Krog and Coun. Ian Thorpe and Janice Perrino voting to change course.

Considering which projects to recommend is a balancing act between current data and future area growth, Rose told the meeting.

“That’s where we look and go. ‘this is this is where we’re going to promote density, and this is where we want to promote a walkable community’. At this immediate moment in time, the density may not be there [at Wallace St.], but in time it will be, and so whether it’s the TELUS site, or whether it’s something up on Franklyn or the old hospital site, there’s going to be pedestrian generators.”

Swayed by a swell of community support from nearby Fairview Elementary School, a raised crosswalk at Elizabeth St. at Howard Ave. (scored 41.5) was also considered but failed to gain much support, being voted down 6-2 with only Coun. Ben Geselbracht and Hilary Eastmure in support.

A raised crosswalk on Portsmouth Rd. at Applecross Rd. is expected to help curb vehicle speeds through the north Nanaimo corridor. (Google Maps)

Third time was the charm, however, as Council finally settled on a secondary staff recommendation for a raised crosswalk on Waddington Rd. at Dufferin Cres., which scored 47 on the City’s system.

“I think this is a site that definitely could use an upgrade,” Geselbracht said. “It’s high on the list…I think that we should move forward with it. I would also think Mary Ellen Dr. at Dover Rd. is another area that really needs some improvements but it’s a little bit out of the budget ($150,000) currently.”

The project on Townsite Rd. at St. Patrick Cres. will also include some lighting improvements.

Design phases will proceed over the coming months, with construction eyed for either 2026 or 2027.

These initiatives must be formally endorsed, which are expected, at a future City Council meeting.

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