CDN-NDG borough council calls on city to improve road markings

TheCte-des-NeigesNotre-Dame-de-Grceborough council has unanimously passed a motion calling on the cityto improveroad markings, with a particular focus on putting lines down to delineate crosswalks, school zones and bike lanes.

The amended motion,first proposed byCoun. MarvinRotrandand passed Monday evening, calls on the city's management servicesto propose solutionsby 2019.

Thatcould include replacing the paint that's currently usedwith more durable products or hiring private firms to handle the job, as borough councillorsand local residents have complained about a lack of paint on the streets.

In June, only 20 per cent of the stop lines were painted inCDN-NDG, according toRotrand. He also said only four per centofspeed bumps were painted.

The borough has calledforcrosswalks, school zones and bike lanes to be a priority.

Rotrandsaid passing the motion wasan example of how the council can put partisan politics aside to work toward "real and pragmatic solutions that will spur change."

Sue Montgomery says her team 'has made this a priority'

During Monday night's borough council meeting, Loyola districtCoun. ChristianArseneaultsaid multiple city administrations have worked on the issue.

"I think it's important to highlight that many boroughs across the city have been raising this issue over the last few months with our administration," said Arseneault, who represents Projet Montral.

Once the city realized how widespread the issue was,he said the Plante administration started working toward finding a solution. It proposed a series of minor amendments to the motion before it was passed.

Things "are being done at city hall in order to find a better system," Arseneault said.

After the vote, borough Mayor Sue Montgomery said her team "has made this a priority."

"This is something we want to have improved by next year."

Road markings are the 'first-line ofdefence': Coun. Perez

Coun. Lionel Perez, who represents Darlingtonand belongs to Montreal's official opposition party, said the issue is one of public security.

He described lane markings as the "first-line of defence" when it comes to the safety of cyclists, pedestrians and drivers.

"It's always been a struggle of trying to geta little bit better," he said, noting the citywants to have the markings done by the end of May.

Jason Savard, a spokesperson for the Association of Pedestrians and Cyclists of NDG, told CBC News something needs to be done.

The painted markings, he said, havenot been there for "most of the year."

The union representing blue-collar workers, the Syndicat des Cols bleus regroups de Montral Local 301, said 150 kilometres of new bike lanes added across the citysince 2015are to blame for the road-painting delays.

Crews are working "tirelessly to provide a quality service to which citizens are entitled," the union said in a statement Monday, just before theCDN-NDG council vote.