A local MLA says Destination Reeves St. improvements should include advance greens as originally presented.
Allan MacMaster, the Tory MLA for Inverness, asked Lloyd Hines, the province’s transportation minister and the MLA for Guysborough-Eastern Shore-Tracadie, why the flashing greens were removed from the plan on the floor of the Legislature before the end of the fall session in October.
MacMaster tells The Hawk it was important to ask on behalf of residents.
“There was a number of people that had raised the issue,” he says. “Whenever there’s an issue like that, that people are talking about, it’s a sign it’s on people’s minds- I think it was necessary to make sure that it got asked.”
MacMaster says Hines told him he would investigate if they were required.
He says that likely won’t be the end of it.
“I’m not sure at this point- he did say that he would review it, but I think this is something we have to monitor, and we have to keep our eye on,” he says. “I can see myself maybe having to ask about this again in the future.”
MacMaster says TIR officials shouldn’t have made changes without consulting town councillors.
He says it isn’t what they approved.
“They voted based on having those flashing green turn signals for those streets, and it was their understanding that was part of the plan,” he says. “What they’re getting isn’t exactly what they were voting for.”
Hines tells the Hawk his staff members determined advance greens were not required for public safety.
