By ROY WOOD

Pedestrian safety found its way before Oliver council in the form of possible better lighting and a sidewalk at the north end of town and the positioning of crosswalks in the downtown core.

Regional District of Okanagan-Similkameen (RDOS) director Terry Schafer proposed a joint project to better light the northern entrance to Oliver. He said he was impressed with some of the LED roadway lighting solutions he saw at the recent Union of BC Municipalities convention in Vancouver.

He pointed out that as Highway 97 curves left and then back to the right entering the town, the area is not well lit and pedestrians could be in danger.

“I envision a couple of high-tech streetlights around the dark area … it would really enhance (pedestrian) safety,” he said.

He said he was giving council “heads-up” as it gets close to annual budget deliberations.

Councillor Jack Bennest suggested such a lighting proposal could be part of a larger project, which might also include a new sidewalk. He suggested a meeting amoung the town, the RDOS and the provincial ministry of transportation and infrastructure.

Downtown crosswalks were a large part of the conversation as council discussed the ongoing Highway 97 renovations.

An aerial view provided by the ministry showed pedestrian crosswalks only on the north sides of the Bank Avenue and Veterans Avenue intersections with the highway.

Councillors agreed that it makes more sense that the Veterans Avenue crosswalk goes on the south side, between the theatre and the Taste of India restaurant. At the Bank corner, it was agreed, there should be crosswalks on the north and south sides of the intersection.

Director of operations Shawn Goodsell said he would discuss the matter with the ministry.