As I mentioned in a previous entry, there have been a lot of concerns raised while out at the doors about the area around Thompson Road and Kennedy Circle/Louis St Laurent. After talking with some candidates in the ward across the street (ward 7) those concerns are shared by a lot of people.
I received an email from the engineering department at the town of Milton informing me that some changes are coming. They told me there will be a set of lights installed at the intersection of Clark Blvd and Thompson Road, possibly up and running by the end of July. Further studies have been and will be done again for the following intersections: Thompson & Hepburn, Thompson & Kennedy Circle and Thompson & Louis St Laurent.
Now before the “too many lights” people start raging, this doesn’t mean that there will be lights at each of these intersections. In order for that to happen that intersection needs to meet certain warrants (traffic totals in each direction) before anything happens.
I got further clarification of what is required for a signalled crosswalk, the most popular choice of people living in these areas, to be installed. During a period of study there needs to be approximately 200 pedestrians crossing the street in an 8 hour period. I don’t know exactly when these studies were done in the past but Im sure it comes close to that amount during the summer time.
People on the west side of Thompson Road directly across from the Metro Plaza have repeatedly told me and other Ward 7 candidates that its a challenge to walk to that mall. While they live less than 1KM from the plaza, they are forced to get into their cars and drive over for the fear of crossing Thompson Road. The same goes for the people on the east side of Thompson (our ward 6) trying to take advantage of the beautiful park and soccer fields. We shouldn’t have to get into our cars, to go to a park or go shopping when we live so close.
A signalled crosswalk would be beneficial for these and other people who want to walk in the town of Milton. Who knows when the lights will be put in at Louis St Laurent. LSL is slated for a major expansion this year and next in order to keep up with the growth of the Boyne Survey. There needs to be something at this location sooner.
Send me your email at mike@mikecluett.ca to add your name to a list of people interested in finding out if and when we can get a signalled crosswalk there sooner.
Until then, I’ll see you at the doors.