City Rolls Out New Pedestrian Crossovers on Sudbury Roads
Nov 15, 2016
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
The City of Greater Sudbury officially opened the first of 20 new pedestrian crossovers on area roads today, across Barry Downe Road near Woodbine Avenue in New Sudbury. Pedestrian crossovers are designed for roads with a relatively low volume of traffic but a significantly high number of pedestrians who require a safe way to cross mid-block.
"Our goal is to create a safer environment for pedestrians and more consistent rules for motorists,” said Greater Sudbury Mayor Brian Bigger. “Members of Council and staff have been working with the Greater Sudbury Police over the past year to reduce the number pedestrian collisions in our community. The rules of pedestrian crossovers are clear. Motorists must always stop for pedestrians, unless they are facing a green light at a controlled traffic crossing.”
Greater Sudbury joins a growing number of large municipalities in the province to introduce the new road design. Pedestrians and motorists are advised to watch for “stop for pedestrian” signs at various locations in Sudbury, as local construction is completed in stages to the end of November.
“We plan to roll out the opening of these pedestrian crossovers to give all road users an opportunity to become familiar with this traffic device,” said Tony Cecutti, General Manager of Infrastructure Services. “We’ll be working with our Councillors, Greater Sudbury Police and more vulnerable pedestrian groups to help educate everyone on the proper and safe use of crossovers.”
The Province of Ontario has amended the Highway Traffic Act to require vehicles and cyclists in both directions to come to a full stop at pedestrian crossovers, and to remain stopped until pedestrians have crossed the entire width of the road to reach the opposite side.
Pedestrians must point across the road or push a button to activate a flashing light, where available, to alert motorists. Pedestrians must ensure that traffic has come to a complete stop before stepping off the sidewalk. Cyclists must dismount and walk their bikes across the road.
Drivers and cyclists can be fined from $150 to $500 and 3 demerit points for failing to yield to pedestrians at pedestrian crossovers. Pedestrians can be fined $35 for moving into the path of a vehicle that is so close that it is impossible for the motorist to stop safely.
Pedestrian crossovers have the following features:
- Stop for Pedestrian signs installed on both sides of the road
- Painted markings on the road for the pedestrian crossing and
- Painted yield bars on the road to indicate where vehicles and bicycles must stop
Some but not all pedestrian crossovers will have flashing lights as an added warning to motorists.
Some but not all pedestrian crossovers will have tactile warning strips at the curb -- knobs on the sidewalk to alert the visually impaired that they are about to step onto the road.
Pedestrian crossovers will be located near intersections, on straight stretches and in right turn lanes. Motorists must not pass within 30 metres of the following pedestrian crossovers:
Opening the week of November 14, 2016:
- Barry Downe Road at Woodbine Avenue: Close to Bus Stop serving Routes 300, 302, 401, 402 and Cambrian College
- Municipal Road 24 south of Jacobson Drive, Lively: Close to Meadowbrook Retirement Village and 20 Hill Road.
- Bond Street, east of Murray Street: Close to Bus Stop serving Routes 7 and 147 and Junction Creek Waterway Park
- Elgin Street at Nelson Street Bridge: Close to Bus Stop serving Routes 101, 102 and 241 and Trail system to Junction Creek Waterway Park, Bell Park and Science North
- Elgin Street at Shaughnessy Street: Close to Bus Stop serving Routes 101, 102 and 241 and Elgin Street (CP Rail) Parking
- Madison Avenue at Sagebrush Place: Close to Twin Forks Playground and Junction Creek Waterway Park
Opening the week of November 28, 2016:
Brady Street at Shaughnessy Street: Close to Tom Davies Square and Sudbury Theatre Centre
Elm Street at the Downtown Transit Terminal: Close to Rainbow Centre and Downtown Transit Terminal
Kathleen Street at Burton Avenue: Close to Bus Stop serving Routes 17 and 147 and Frood Hotel
Riverside Drive at Cross Street: Close to Bus Stop serving Routes 501 and 502 and Junction Creek Waterway Park
Pedestrian crossovers will also be installed in the right turn lanes of the following intersections: Lasalle Boulevard at Barry Downe Road, Lasalle Boulevard at Notre Dame Avenue, Paris Street at Brady Street, Paris Street at Elm Street, Regent Street at Paris Street/Long Lake Road, and Regent Street at Walford Road/Martindale Road
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