NEWS RELEASE
TOWNSHIP OF SPRINGWATER
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SPRINGWATER TWP. – Highway 93 and Albert Street in Hillsdale will receive much-needed safety upgrades with the installation of an intersection pedestrian signal to assist people crossing the road.
Highway 93 is a busy transportation route, with many passenger vehicles and transport trucks passing through daily. Although the posted speed limit is 50 km/hr, vehicles often travel at speeds in excess of the posted limit.
The Township provides crossing guard services at certain times throughout the school day to assist children crossing the street to nearby Hillsdale Elementary School, however some vehicles are reluctant to slow down and stop when necessary.
Pedestrians attempting to cross the street at other times of the day are at even greater risk.
Following requests by the Township, the Ministry of Transportation installed a Level 2, Type B Pedestrian Crossing at the intersection during the summer of 2017. While the crosswalk installed was an improvement, it creates further safety concerns due to the low visibility of the lights, which are especially difficult to see in bright sunlight.
Residents feel that the crosswalk provides a false sense of security, as users proceed with less caution than they would without a crosswalk.
As a result, Township Council and Hillsdale residents met with the Honourable Doug Downey, MPP in July 2019 to share their concerns and examples of multiple near misses were provided by residents. In August 2019, Mayor Don Allen, Deputy Mayor Jennifer Coughlin and CAO Jeff Schmidt met with the Honorable Caroline Mulroney, Minister of Transportation and her staff to request a signalized intersection.
“Resident safety is our top priority and we are pleased to hear that our concerns were addressed by the Ministry of Transportation,” says Mayor Don Allen. “On behalf of Springwater Council, I want to thank the residents of Hillsdale who continued to express their concerns and share their stories; this project has become a reality because of your passion and enthusiasm. Thank you to MPP Downey and Minister Mulroney who took the time to listen and provide a solution to this issue and ensure the well-being of our residents.”
The Township will work with the Ministry of Transportation on the design process with the hopes of having the improvements installed by spring 2020. In the interim, residents are asked to continue using the existing pedestrian crossing with extra caution.
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