Turning right on a red light may no longer be the right way to go in a few key parts of Waterloo Region, as a committee has agreed to move forward with a new project that would prohibit the action at 12 major intersections.
It comes as the region’s Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee discussed installing signage at those 12 intersections, marking that turning right on a red light would no longer be allowed, in a push for safety.
Those 12 intersections include:
- Cambridge
- Franklin Boulevard and Glamis Road/Robson Avenue
- Water Street at Park Hill Road
- Ainslie Street at Main Street
- Hespeler Road at Eagle Street/Pinebush Road
- Kitchener
- Fairway Road at Wilson Avenue
- Fairway Road at Lackner Boulevard/Fairway Crescent
- Benton Street/Frederick Street at King Street
- Victoria Street at Lawrence Avenue
- Waterloo
- Northfield Drive at Davenport Road
- Weber Street at University Avenue
- University Avenue at Albert Street
- University Avenue at Phillip Street
“We’re constantly trying to ensure that we have safer communities,” said Councillor Colleen James.
“We know that we have looked at different avenues, some of which have been changed, that are beyond our powers, but I think anything we can do to create safer roads for people travelling, however ways, is part of how we grow with care.”
Regional staff said that those key areas were selected due to their volume of both drivers and pedestrians, with prior data showing they are some of the stretches which see the highest number of pedestrian-involved collisions.
It comes as the region has continued looking for alternative options to the controversial speed cameras, which were turned off across the province in November by Ontario Premier Doug Ford.
Councillors discussed the potential of moving forward with the move, alongside the estimated $21,000 price tag, with regional staff saying the pilot project’s impact on traffic congestion would be closely monitored as it’s rolled.
“We know that this could impact some travel times on transit routes,” said Transportation Commissioner Mathieu Goetzke.
“We have to be a little bit careful in the implementation and continue to work with our local municipal partners throughout the pilot.”
Goetzke said that they’ve already been in discussion with Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) about the future enforcement of the new project, also saying they plan on having conversations with Grand River Transit (GRT) to work to mitigate any possible transit disruptions or delays that the move could create.
While the regional committee agreed to move forward with the potential pilot program, it would still need the go-ahead at the council level before it would be properly implemented across Waterloo Region.
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