In a delegation to Kamloops City Council, Thompson Rivers University (TRU) president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Brett Fairbairn pleaded for an extension on the consideration of the construction over the Summit Drive pedestrian overpass.
Earlier this month, Kamloops City Council expressed frustration over the progress of the overpass after being told TRU was still in the process of nailing down the location.
Council voted in favour of sending a letter to the university seeking clarity on the study but also that the city’s support for the project was based on the northern location and they weren’t interested in changing their minds.
Ultimately, the city wants the overpass built 275 metres north of the McGill and Summit intersection while the university wants it built closer, at around 160 m north of the intersection.
In response, Fairbairn and other representatives presented to council on Tuesday.
Fairbairn started by citing several tragic and fatal pedestrian-involved collisions that have happened around the campus.
“TRU’s campus is bordered by Kamloops’ busiest and most dangerous streets. In fact, we’re almost completely surrounded by exceptionally busy roadways,” Fairbairn said.
Fairburn pointed to the tragic death of a university employee, who was hit and killed by a truck at the intersection of McGill Road and University Way in November 2019.
Most recently, three TRU volleyball players were involved in a horrific car accident near the same intersection in November 2023. Owyn McInnis died and Owen Waterhouse and Riley Brinnen were critically injured in the crash.
“The streets adjacent to our campus have been deadly,” Fairburn emotionally recounted.
He said safety on the city’s streets is vitally important and is increasing the university’s concern on building the overpass in the most beneficial way for the whole community.
Earlier this month, city council said they wanted to see the overpass built at the location that was deemed the most desirable by two studies done in 2012 and 2022.
During the Feb. 7 meeting, council was told that TRU had hired a consultant because they wanted another review of the project and the best place for the overpass to be built.
That review is expected to be completed by April, however, city council sent a letter seeking clarification with a response deadline set for Mar. 1.
“We came here today to ask council to extend its deadline of the first of March and allow TRU the opportunity to provide (and) complete one last and very important study related to the location of this critical piece of infrastructure,” Fairburn said.
He said the overpass was about more than ensuring students didn’t j-walk but was about ensuring pedestrians and cyclists were able to safely navigate through one of the busiest and crash-prone areas of Kamloops.
“The McGill Summit intersection is the third worst in Kamloops for crashes, it’s an extremely busy corridor with four lanes of traffic in all directions combined with high traffic volumes and significant speeds,” Fairburn added.
Fairburn told council previous studies lacked up-to-date information including the impact of new residential builds around the university and for planned residential developments.
The 2022 study did not take a fresh look at location but instead relied on the 2012 location, which is already a dozen years old, he added.
“We want to sure about that location because a more southern location may provide greater relief to the Summit McGill intersection, so that is very much on our minds,”
“An additional study entirely at TRU's expense will clarify that matter by the end of April with no impairment of the construction scheduled. This bridge will be built in 2025/26.”
He said TRU was committed to proceeding with the project at a location that best matches the studies and that no decisions had yet been made and wanted to continue to work with the city on the overpass.
Mayor Reid Hamer-Jackson asked if staff can work with TRU with support from BC Transit.
Staff said it was possible to move forward with new engagement between the three parties.
Coun. Nancy Bepple asked what TRU’s criteria were for moving forward with the project.
“We share the city’s commitment to active transportation, sustainability (…) But I would say when it comes to this matter, I really, as I suggested earlier, we’re thinking overwhelmingly of safety issues,” Fairburn said, adding that they were also focused on the impacts the overpass will have on the surrounding area.
Coun. Katie Neustaeter told her colleagues and the TRU representatives that she hopes the university’s relations with the city don’t suffer, but wondered why a third study needed to be commissioned.
“I hope that what comes through ultimately is, wherever this project lands, we value highly our relationship with TRU (...) We treasure our relationship and it is very important to us,” she said.
“I think that our letter is a reflection of our concern around a change that was very unanticipated.”
Mayor Hamer-Jackson put forward a motion to retract the letter that’s already been sent to TRU.
Coun. Neustaeter said the letter was seeking clarification on the newest study that was ordered and is being paid for by TRU. She told her colleagues that it was not an ultimatum.
Moreover, coun. Mike O’Reilley said he now had more questions than a meeting earlier this month and didn’t support retracting the letter.
Ultimately, the vote to retract the letter was defeated 8-1 with the mayor being the only one voting in favour of retracting it.
The university’s study will continue, city council has received the clarification they requested from TRU and another report is expected to be brought forward at a future date.
