Increased Main Street traffic has the Town of Minto again discussing the oft-rejected idea of a downtown crosswalk or traffic light here.
Councillor Ron Elliott pointed out at the Nov. 17 council meeting that local residents have been raising concerns about the difficulty of crossing the street, which is part of Wellington Road 123. Elliott, who walks daily in Palmerston, agrees it’s becoming an issue.
“When you’re trying to cross the street now you’ve got to wait every time,” said Elliott, adding vehicles are also being compelled to wait to enter the intersection at the main corner, which is currently controlled only with a yellow flashing light.
“Maybe now’s the time to bring forward Bob Cherry’s thought about a light in Palmerston? Cross walk? There has to be something,” said Elliott, in reference to the Palmerston resident’s decades-long campaign for a stop light at the intersection of Main, William and Jane Streets.
Over the years the county and provincial transportation ministry have studied the issue several times, always concluding traffic volumes don’t warrant a light or crosswalk.
Elliott said 2007 traffic counts indicated 4,700 vehicles travelled the road daily, a figure Elliott said is up substantially, particularly with the addition of a Tim Hortons and other businesses at the town’s west end industrial park.
Public works director Brian Hansen said latest figures indicate 5,300 vehicles travel the street daily.
“If you’re talking traffic light, you’re talking a million bucks,” said Mayor George Bridge, noting accessibility requirements such sound signals for the hearing impaired add to the cost of installing traffic lights.
Bridge also pointed out that although 123 is a county road, the Town of Minto would be responsible for the cost of any lights or crosswalk. He said a crosswalk, using current technology, might be doable for around $10,000.
“We’d have to request the county to look at it – in fairness, they were very anti-cross walks a few years ago,” said Bridge.
However, he noted, “There’s new technology and some new things going on,” which might make the idea more feasible. Bridge said he would raise the concerns with the county roads committee and “find out what the procedure is.
“I think the good News is we’re getting traffic. We’re getting bigger and we’re getting busier,” he added.
