Painted crosswalk proposal approved by city council

Painted crosswalks are one step closer to becoming a reality in Windsor. City council approved the concept Monday night and referred the item to the 2019 operating budget for a more detailed analysis of cost and funding options.

The initiativeis aimed at promoting public art and making surrounding neighbourhoods more attractive.

City of Windsor cultural affairs manager Cathy Masterson told CBCNews the community groups advocating for crosswalks in four areas in Windsor would be responsible for the actual painting.

The city, Masterson added,would be concerned with ensuring safety regulations are met.

"We would be involved with blocking off the streets and making sure that the streets are clean and making sure the paint meets the standards that are on roads which are deal about reflection and water movement and we don't want people sliding through paint and things like this," Masterson said.

The proposal mentions painted crosswalks in theGlengarry-to-Marentette neighbourhood, which includes a painting of the cultural diversity in their community. The WindsorSymphonyOrchestra would like to paint music notes on a crosswalk.

A pride crosswalk has been requested for the Walkerville area and Via Italie on Erie Street has also submitted an idea.

"I think it is a fantastic opportunity, it's reallyprovidingthe community an opportunity to have a bit of neighbourhood identification, its reflective of their own community," said Masterson.

However, the city's traffic department says they will have to make sure all the technical requirements are met.

"We have to make sure material used isslip resistant ... reflective at night, those sorts of things," saidJohn Wolf, seniormanager of trafficoperations.

City staff says the price of the project all depends on what sort of paint is used.

A crosswalk that uses thermoplasticmaterials can cost up to $15,000 per crosswalk but last up to seven years. Regular road paint has a one-year life expectancy and costs about $1,000.