City services | June 20, 2018
Over the next few months, the City of Mississauga will install five new pedestrian crossovers in various neighbourhoods. Locations have been selected as part of a pilot program looking to improve pedestrian safety on Mississauga roads. The program comes as part of a new provincial legislation under the Highway Traffic Act introduced in January 2016. Under the law, Ontario municipalities now have the ability to install crossovers on low-speed roads.
A pedestrian crossover is a type of crossing where by law, drivers are required to stop for pedestrians intending to cross the road. Crossovers allow pedestrians to cross roads safely and all have specific signs and pavement markings.
“Mississauga is a very busy city with thousands of people making use of our roadways every day, making road safety an important priority,” said Mickey Frost, Director, Works Operations & Maintenance for the City of Mississauga. “These new crossovers will allow pedestrians to easily cross roadways safely.”
Staff reviewed more than 20 locations where pedestrian crossing assistance were requested by the public. The review of these locations included criteria such as the level of pedestrian and vehicle traffic in the area and the posted speed limit of the roadway and the locations selected for the pilot were deemed to have the greatest impact on public safety with a view to advance City Council’s Vision Zero mandate.
Frost added, “Vision Zero is a Council endorsed approach to road safety. The framework looks at preventing and ultimately eliminating all pedestrian, cyclist and motorist fatalities and injuries on city streets.”
The pedestrian crossovers, also known as a Level 2 Pedestrian Crossover, will be installed in the following locations:
• Doug Leavens Boulevard (Ward 10)
• Whitehorn Avenue (Ward 6)
• Winding Trail (Ward 3)
• Westbridge Way (Ward 11)
• Homelands Drive (Ward 2)
The law states that drivers and cyclists must also stop and yield at pedestrian crossovers, school crossings and other locations where there is a crossing guard. Drivers can be fined $150 to $500 and three demerit points for offences at a pedestrian crossing.
Following the installation of the crossovers, City staff will evaluate the effectiveness of the program over the coming year.
Mississauga City Council approved the pilot program in February 2018.
For additional information about the City’s road safety program, visit mississauga.ca/road safety.
Media Contact:
Karen Flores
Senior Communications Advisor
City of Mississauga
905-615-3200, ext. 5053
Karen.Flores@mississauga.ca
TTY: 905-896-5151
