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Three digital crosswalk signals coming to town

There's potential for more to come as budget discussions take place later this year, staff member says.

Midland council gave three locations the green light for digitized crosswalk signals.

The three locations brought forward by staff are Bayshore Drive at Midland Avenue, William Street at Donalda Street and Yonge Street at Sixth Street. The three locations will cost $92,000, already budgeted by council.

"I'm very excited to see this roll out," said Coun. Cher Cunningham. "I was wondering what the agenda for that King Street crossing up by Tim Hortons is. I know that our high schools are currently closed and that was one of the driving factors for that, so I'm wondering if you could speak to that."

The question was directed toward Andy Campbell, director of infrastructure.

"We contemplated 11 crossings and in the budget we put three," he said. "(Of) the three that are recommended in this report, one is an elementary school. King Street is around high school students, so we're prioritizing elementary school children over high school students."

According to the staff report, the Yonge Street at Sixth Street location is proposed because staff feel that Yonge Street does not currently have enough safe pedestrian crossings. As well, the report says, this location helps students of Mundy’s Bay Elementary School to cross safely.

As for the crosswalk on William Street, Campbell said the danger posed by the current situation could mean potential lawsuits for the town.

The staff report says a signalized crosswalk will replace the existing courtesy crossing at that spot. This crossing location is used for crossing from Donalda Street to access the sidewalk on the east side of William Street, going north or south.

The report states that staff proposed crosswalk at the existing spot on Bayshore Drive at Midland Avenue. This crosswalk is used heavily throughout the year, particularly during the summer and can be hazardous to cross.

"The third is in front of the water and there are a lot of crossings there," he said. "And we will have more traffic there as we go through the King Street reconstruction this summer."

Campbell added the transporation master plan did not have the King Street location, to which Cunningham referred, identified as a potential location.

"At the public meetings, that did not come up to the top of the list," he said. "It doesn't mean that can't happen in future years, so we will have the opportunity during budget discussions for next years where we might have money to do it." 

Coun. Bill Gordon agreed: "We can't do everything at once. The priority, as you explained it, does make sense. It's not you not putting it there. It's just the reality of us having to pick the top three spots. We will revisit it this fall with our new CFO (chief financial officer)."

Locations and site-specific details will be shared with the Accessibility Advisory Committee and Active Transportation Advisory Committee for comment. The remaining signalized crosswalks identified in the multi-modal transportation master plan will be included in the 2020 and 2021 draft capital budgets for council's consideration.