Tell Us Your Big Idea!

Idea:

Hello I think that city council has made some great changes to the city. My concern is that the fence just before the stone bridge.

City Feedback:

Thanks for reaching out! The state of the fence next to the Stone Bridge has been reviewed by City staff and we agree it has issues. Looking ahead, our engineering dept has infrastructure renewal (water & sewer pipes / roadway & sidewalk replacement) planned for that area in the next 5 years. As this reconstruction comes down Royal Road and through the intersection with Sunset Drive, this section of Main Street will be rebuilt by changing the sidewalks and the roadway to match with the City's Main Street Plan. Reconstructing and improving the fencing along this section will be part of the work we'll do.

Idea:

Fredericton needs an amphitheatre with a large enough space to accommodate at least 100 audience members and a stage that could be used for outdoor concerts AND theatre. It should be owned by the city so that it will (hopefully) be affordable for all groups to use- unlike other private spaces such as the Playhouse. Why not add this unique space to Odell Park? Bard in the Barracks, Theatre New Brunswick, Spearhead Theatre, Symphony NB, Calithumpians, Branch Out Productions, and COUNTLESS others could use this playing space.

Staff Feedback:

We love this idea! Fredericton needs public performance spaces to support our vibrant performing arts community. Along with a Performing Arts Centre, the City is planning investments in Officers’ Square that will have to multiple performance spaces, from a larger performance stage that will accommodate the New Brunswick Symphony Orchestra and other large groups to a smaller stage area that will accommodate smaller groups and audiences.

Idea:

I live in the Northside but travel out to the Hanwell park every weekend to use the off leash trail. It's such a wonderful time for the pups and it would be wonderful if something like that was available at Killarney or Odell. I think by having designated off leash trails, it would cut down on some people letting their dogs off leash on whatever trail they are on.

Staff Feedback:

We agree that it's great to let the pups loose to run off all that energy! We've shared your idea with Parks & Trees staff. In the meantime, there's the Grant-Harvey dog park and Cityview Ave dog park where you can let your dog off-leash :)

Idea:

Glass is literally the most recyclable material on earth. WHY are we not recycling glass jars or containers?? I’m fine to take bottles to a bottle depot, but throwing away a perfectly recyclable glass jar in the trash is so irresponsible when we know there’s a better, greener way. There’s only so many jars I can repurpose in my home. The city should partner with local businesses (like Picaroon’s, Greystone, and construction companies) to start a glass recycling initiative across Fredericton and the surrounding areas. Bottles can be recycled to make more bottles for the brewing companies involved, and the construction companies can take the glass aggregate to use for their own projects (like fixing potholes, or whatever).

Staff Feedback:

Thanks for your idea! Fredericton Region Solid Waste is responsible for the disposal and recycling of solid waste in Regional Service Commission 11. The City of Fredericton is one member of a 19-member board that makes decisions about FRSW's operations. Because of safety, poor markets and contamination issues, FRSW does not accept non-refundable glass for recycling, and the City supports this.

At this time, it is not environmentally beneficial or economically feasible for the City to operate its own glass recycling system because it would require collection trucks and processing equipment (both of which would be costly), and there simply aren't enough buyers for low volumes of glass.

The team at FRSW are always open to answering questions and addressing concerns, and we're sure they'd welcome chatting with about landfill practices. They can be reached at 453-9930 or info@frswc.ca.

Idea:

Have better control on Developers.

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for the suggestion respecting mixed use buildings. The City’s Zoning By-law does require mixed use buildings (ground floor commercial spaces) in many of the existing Zones. The Zoning By-law also specifically outlines where mix-used buildings are most appropriate.

Idea:

Owing to snow banks piling up on corners (in downtown and especially on hills, like at the corner of Kimble & Wetmore), visibility often gets very poor at intersections. In a couple cases it's basically a blind intersection by mid-January where you can't see far enough to be sure you are safe to drive into the intersection. At the same time, most of these intersections don't have enough traffic to justify traffic lights. Combined with poor traction & people's tendency to speed in the city, it's a real safety risk. I was traveling in Norway for work a few years ago and they have snow blowers that basically "shave down" the top of a tall snow banks and improve visibility - is that something we can do? Alternatively could we add more infrastructure to force a safe driving speed?

Staff Feedback:

Thanks so much for your idea! The City follows a snow control plan that identifies major intersections that snow is regularly removed from the corners to improve sightlines. In addition, Roadway Operations staff regularly monitor snow bank conditions throughout the City and snow is pushed back to open up sightlines where required and as staff resourcing permits. If there are specific locations where you see safety concerns throughout the winter, don’t hesitate to contact Service Fredericton at 460-2020 and our Roadway Operations staff will investigate.

Idea:

Wilmot basketball courts is often packed and more busy than the tennis courts. However there are only three playable nets and no night lights. I’m sure kids and adults would use this recreation space until snow fell if there were more accessible nets and night lights. It’s a shame that some kids don’t feel comfortable playing and often get bullied off by older players. By adding more nets we can ensure there will be spots for everyone to play. A safe location near the frex and multicultural centre.

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for taking the time to share your concerns about the Wilmot Park Basketball facility. The recently-completed Wilmot Park Improvement Plan contains a grading and lighting strategy that includes sport courts contained within the Park. This plan is available on the City of Fredericton Web Site located at www.fredericton.ca. In addition, a Recreation and Parks Master Plan will be undertaken by the City in the coming year that will review indoor as well as outdoor recreational infrastructure and amenities.

Idea:

As a frequent pedestrian, I often have cyclist zip past me on sidewalks despite this being against traffic law. This has led to a few close calls where cyclists were riding too fast and I ended up needing to jump off the sidewalk for my own safety. At the same time, as a *former* cyclist myself. I understand why cyclists ride on the sidewalk instead of on the road: Fredericton's driving culture very much still treats cyclists as unwelcome interlopers. I am a former cyclist because of how dangerously Fredericton drivers behave around cyclists - I felt like I was risking life-changing injury or death every time I put my helmet on to go for a ride in this city. When I lived in Germany as a child, they had a neat system that could be a win-win for everyone: they would have separate cycling ways from walking areas on busy roads, separated from car traffic by a physical barrier so the cyclists didn't have to worry about getting clipped by an impatient driver. Other cities in Canada (e.g. Montreal) have adopted this sort of strategy to good effect in their busiest regions. Frankly I would love to cycle to and from work in the warmer months and help to reduce the amount of car traffic, however I don't feel safe in doing so with the driving culture as it is - bike lanes often obstructed by cars and trash waiting for pickup isn't real or effective cycling infrastructure. Our current infrastructure sends the message to drivers that cyclists are at best an afterthought and don't really belong on the road, and our drivers tend to act accordingly. This is exactly the wrong message our city needs to be sending if we want to meet our carbon targets and improve activity levels. I'd like to see the city put real thought towards building infrastructure that encourages and enables active transport without having it become something purely for the adrenaline junkies who don't mind cars passing so close as to ruffle their jacket with the side mirrors or cutting around them, almost causing a collision, when they need to turn left.

Staff Feedback:

Our engineering team loves the idea of more separated bike facilities on our major roads to improve cyclist safety/comfort and reduce sidewalk cycling! Unfortunately, these are quite expensive to build and often only financially feasible as part of full street rebuilds. But we are always looking for ways to use other funding opportunities to help expand the active transportation network. This year, for instance, we kicked off a 3-year project to build elevated/separated bike lanes along Brookside Drive between Douglas Avenue and Main Street with the help of federal funding through the Green Municipal Fund. We're hoping that this will be a showcase project that can then be implemented on other corridors in the City once they are due for full infrastructure renewal (such as York Street, Crocket Street, etc.). We are also working on a pilot project to provide separated bike lanes in the downtown core to help promote AT.

Idea:

Connect the Regent Street Sobeys' parking lot to the York Street Train Station Alcool NB Liquor store for easy accessibility by car.

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for your suggestion! In general, the City tries to avoid having commercial properties connected in such a way that it creates a short-cutting opportunity for traffic between major streets (in this case between Regent Street and York Street). Our research shows that short-cutting traffic through parking lots usually results in people driving aggressively and putting other users of the commercial establishments at risk. As an alternative, however, the City is working on formalizing a more permanent paved multi-use trail connection between the properties and also connecting to the Crosstown Trail at Regent Street and on Aberdeen Street. These trail improvements will make it much easier and safer to walk or bike between these adjacent commercial establishments.

Idea:

It's always so difficult when the harsh NB winters roll around and you're a transit user. I have several members of my family who use city transit everyday and it's hard to think of them standing on the side of the road risking life and limb in traffic and being forced to be exposed to the elements. Allot of transit stops in the city don't even get dug out in the winter and users are forced to either stand in/on a snow bank or the road way (this is so dangerous it's cringeworthy to see). In the past users have been instructed to stand in a driveway nearest the bus stop but i myself have had transit drivers drive right past me not knowing i'm waiting for the bus. (that's very very frustrating). I understand it would be a huge expensive undertaking for the city to build and maintain shelters for every transit stop..... however this is a very user friendly idea and would truly be a boasting point for the city to say "we have shelters at all bus stops on all major routes in the city"!!! Just a thought, something to ponder or even discuss at the next members, as winter is quickly approaching we all have to consider the needs of those who use the transit. Thank you, Tamara

Staff Feedback:

Thank you for taking the time to share your thoughts on this with us. Fredericton Transit’s service level standard is to clear priority bus stops within 48 hours of the completion of a storm event. Priority bus stops that are regularly cleared during winter months are shown on the Bus Schedule map by zooming in on the bus stop location and using the legend (www.fredericton.ca/transit) . These are typically stops with shelters. Additional bus stops are cleared by other divisions, including Roadway Operations, as resources permit following their clean-up of roads and sidewalks.

We've shared your feedback with leadership at the Transit Dept. Thanks so much for sharing your insights.