Comment 94677

By MikeyJ (registered) | Posted November 12, 2013 at 14:42:23 in reply to Comment 94673

I’m only saying that the sign pictured above at Kent is essentially what Ontario told Hamilton is the best practice to do in such circumstance, and Ontario sets these laws for Hamilton.

Using the 2010 Ontario Traffic Manual for Pedestrian Crossing Facilities (Book 15), that intersection at Kent is not a candidate for a PXO, as the intersection is within 200m of both Locke & Queen signal-protected pedestrian crossings. Nor did it meet the pedestrian volume justification for an Intersection Pedestrian Signal in the 2007 Ontario Traffic Manual– Traffic Signals (Book 12) at the time of study.

Therefore the next option in Book 15 would be “Wherever possible, pedestrians are to be encouraged to use crossing locations with traffic control devices.” Which Hamilton did by putting up the sign, following the provincial recommendations.

It seems we (myself included) have been historically blaming City Staff for something that appears to be mostly the fault of the poor provincial interpretation of the HTA, as laid out in their own manuals for implementation.

Hamilton is not alone in its decisions on pedestrian infrastructure. So far a clear majority of Ontario cities I've looked into have made, and are making, similar pedestrian policy decisions as Hamilton. They are following the Ontario Traffic Manual's and perceive they cannot do much else legally without changes clarifying pedestrian right-of-way in Ontario Highway Traffic Act, which takes precedence over any local by-law.

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