KENILWORTH – The Township of Wellington North is taking steps towards installing a crosswalk in Arthur, on George Street between Frederick and Charles Streets, where there is an existing mid-block pedestrian crossing.
A report about the crossing was received for information during a regular meeting of council on July 14.
The crosswalk is expected to cost $120,000.
The crossing is “in a busy downtown area with grocery and commercial stores on the east side of George Street and a bank, commercial stores and municipal parking lot on the west side,” according to the report.
The township’s consulting traffic engineer Triton Engineering Services completed a manual pedestrian and vehicle traffic count on May 14 which township staff say satisfied Ministry of Transportation (MTO) requirements to upgrade the pedestrian crossing there.
The upgraded crossing would include overhead signage and pavement line markings.
Councillor Penny Renken said, “That’s a busy stretch of road and I see people crossing it all the time, so I’m glad that they’re going to be introducing a crosswalk in that area.”
Councillor Lisa Hern agreed, saying, “I’m pleased that we’re recommending a pedestrian crossover for that area.”
She noted it was something the Arthur BIA was looking for when earlier upgrades were completed in that area, “but we were told numerous times we couldn’t have it.”
Hern added, “Given that [the BIA] paid for a significant percentage … of the curb extension and they do have landscaping around it and I know that some of the lights had to be moved up to accommodate traffic – I just want to make sure that especially given their financial contribution to it that they are consulted about this.
“I know they’ll be supportive of the project but I want to ensure good communication throughout.”
Township manager of infrastructure and engineering Tammy Stevenson said staff had preliminary talks with the BIA in the spring when flower gardens were being planted.
“During the detailed engineering design of the pedestrian crosswalk would be the time that we do additional consultation with BIA and also with the public,” Stevenson added.
When receiving the pedestrian crossing report for information, council directed staff to “combine two existing parking stalls in the municipal parking lot located at 154 George Street and create one new barrier-free (accessible) parking stall.”
Council also directed staff to submit a warrant analysis report to the MTO for approval of the pedestrian crossover at the existing mid-block pedestrian curb extension on George Street.
