The driver of a white truck is driving at a good speed as he approaches the intersection. Arrived at the stop sign, he circumvents the small speed bump there and continues on his way without slowing down.
A few moments later, a second motorist performs the same maneuver. Followed by a third.
“They can be five or six in a row to pass without stopping,” explains Jean-Guy Grenier, who has lived in front of this intersection for 31 years. “For them, it’s just a grilled stop. For us, it’s the worry: when is a child going to be hit? An old person ? ”
Located at the corner of Augier and Louis-Hémon streets, in the heart of the Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie borough, the problematic intersection opens onto a huge asphalt area. In the heart of a residential area where many families live, this atypical layout encourages motorists in a hurry to speed, denounces Kim P. Brouillette, who lives nearby with her spouse and their two young children.
PHOTO SARAH MONGEAU-BIRKETT, THE PRESS
From left to right, Mathieu Desnoyers, Kim P. Brouillette with his daughter, and Jean-Guy Grenier
I never cross the street at the stop sign because I never know if the motorist will stop. I cross with my daughter in the middle of the intersection. There, at least, they cannot help but see us.
Kim P. Brouillette, resident
The police sometimes come to distribute tickets here, she continues. “It’s one ticket after another. It’s like picking up popcorn on the floor after a movie in a movie theater. ”
But police interventions do not solve anything, deplores Mr. Grenier. “The next day, dangerous behavior resumes. My boy almost got hit here by a motorist who didn’t slow down. He was 8 when it happened. It got me mad. ”
For three decades, Mr. Grenier has been lobbying the Rosemont – La Petite-Patrie borough to secure the premises. Thanks to him, the borough added small flashing red lights to the stop sign about ten years ago. The borough has also added a half speed bump – which covers only one of the two traffic lanes – at this location. Without success.
“People are just going around the little speed bump. Even those who ride on a donkey barely slow down. We are no further ahead, ”says the resident.
” Nothing moves ”
Mr. Grenier believes that the borough could place larger speed bumps upstream in rue Augier, in order to force motorists to slow down all along the street, not just at a stop.
Nothing moves. It’s like they’re waiting for a child to be hurt, or worse, before they look into our case.
Jean-Guy Grenier, resident
Mr. Grenier adds that an elderly neighbor also called the borough to report that branches were hiding the stop sign nearby, rue Louis-Hémon, to no avail.
According to Mathieu Desnoyers, who lives nearby, it might also be good to put a sidewalk protrusion at the problematic intersection and prevent parking directly at the intersection, which blocks the view of motorists.
Several years ago, the borough placed flower boxes in the center of the vast asphalt area that makes up this intersection. But the development had attracted people who came to drink there at night after the parks closed, notes Mr. Grenier. “We found bottles of vodka and all kinds of things. And it’s very echoed here, so it bothered people at night. ”
Candidates want to act
Ericka Alneus, new candidate for Projet Montréal in the Étienne-Desmarteau district, says she is aware of the problem posed by this intersection.
“I have been there seven times since June. I went with some urban planning friends to see what could be done, she says. For me, it would be a priority as of January to work to secure this place, with the officials of the borough and with the citizens. ”
Émilia Diamadopoulou, candidate for the Ensemble Montréal team for the district, often says that she goes through rue Augier. “This section is problematic, and not for a few months: for years,” she says. The citizens complain to the administration in place, and we turn a deaf ear to them. ”
If elected, Mme Diamadopoulou promises to create a citizens’ table on mobility in Rosemont. “Everyone’s safety should be the basis. ”
Until elected officials and officials find a way to appease car traffic in his neighborhood, Kim P. Brouillette will not feel safe. “If my daughter sees a cat, she’s going to want to go pet it. What will happen if a motorist in a hurry does not stop? We made the choice to live in the city, to live here, but it’s dangerous and we are left to our own devices. ”