Venturing onto a crosswalk in St. John’s can be frustrating, futile and even fatal.

However, the city is doing what it can to make it safer with its annual crosswalk improvement program.

Council’s committee of the whole got an update yesterday on this year’s work, which includes everything from accessible curb ramps, new side and overhead flashing signals, as well as better signage and sightlines.

The program has an annual budget of $200,000, and Councillor Sandy Hickman dismissed any tongue-in-cheek suggestion of bias for one ward over another.

“These were all based on need and assessment and review, not on any other indications,” he said. “There may be some favourites of some of the councilors around the table … but we have to leave this in the hands of the professionals so that we know that the ones that require safety improvements are given priority, and these improvements will be implemented in 2025.”