Woolwich wants crosswalk at market
But regional staff don’t support the township’s plan
ST. JACOBS — Woolwich wants a pedestrian signal on Farmers’ Market Road to help with foot traffic on market days, but the region says it’s not the best idea.
The township’s chosen spot for the signal — the east side of Benjamin and Farmers’ Market roads — is too close to the lights at Weber Street.
Regional staff says the short distance between two signals would disrupt traffic, so the township took its request to regional council.
“I’m asking for one simple thing and that is relief on the distance between two signals,” Woolwich Coun. Mark Bauman told council at a meeting Wednesday.
He said lots of pedestrians jaywalk across Farmers’ Market Road between the market and outlet mall when the popular market is open for business on Thursdays and Saturdays as well as Tuesdays during the summer.
“This is only a concern on market days … and only for several hours on each of those days.”
There is a lot of confusion that happens, Bauman explained, from
cars stuck in gridlock to pedestrians zigzagging through them and rude gestures being made by both drivers and pedestrians.
“This is all part of the ambience of going to the farmers market,” he added.
A township study from June concluded that a pedestrian-activated signal is the best option for this intersection. It also looked at several other options, from a temporary road closure on market days to installing a roundabout.
The township needs regional approval to install traffic signals, but regional staff has told the township it doesn’t support its chosen option because it is 120 metres away from the signal at Weber Street, less than the region’s required minimum of 200 metres.
The region said it worries about unco-ordinated signals and long traffic cues on market days. It also doesn’t think Woolwich picked the safest option, citing other ways to control traffic such as a pedestrian crossover or police-directed traffic as better ways to funnel pedestrians across the street.
Staff told regional council that it is working on its own report on a possible crosswalk for Farmers’ Market Road. It is expected to come to council later this year.
The township’s report points out a handful of other pedestrian signals that are located within 200 metres of another signal in the region.
There is a pedestrian signal on University Avenue between Albert and Hazel streets in Waterloo. It is 133 metres from one signal and 185 metres from the other.
There is also a pedestrian crossover on Arthur Street South in Elmira, 90 metres from a traffic signal.
“The signalized intersection is not going to solve the traffic problem, it’s going to create a safer environment where cars can go for a few minutes and pedestrians can go for a few minutes instead of what’s happening right now,” Bauman said.
“It’s probably 20 hours out of a 168-hour week, but when it’s needed, it’s needed.”