Changes to Wallace Avenue being considered to increase safety

North Perth Council received information and considered the approval at their meeting Monday on the proposed construction of a pedestrian crossover at Wallace Avenue North at Inkerman.

Staff has recommended the existing crosswalk location be used for the crossover. This was because of usage, safety and visibility. It had been suggested that it be moved to the north side of the road but residents had indicated they wouldn’t be in favour of the alternate location.

Council has received approval for the intersection drawing and proposed changes to receive approval from the Province.

This was reviewed by a Triton Engineering who advised on the project. They also recommended not moving it due to concerns for motorists due to them having to stop further back from the intersection as a result of the altered crosswalk/crossover location. The no left turn sign on Inkerman will be retained as well.

Council also received a recommendation from Paradigm Traffic to install a lit signalled crosswalk on the North side of Wallace to make the crossing for pedestrians safer and calm traffic. They plan on construction to start in September for this.

The public consultation is still open on these items until the end of the month. Staff don’t expect the report to be changed in any material way as responses hadn’t been received in a few weeks on the topic.

Staff are hoping for the lit signal and crossover to be installed by the start of the next school year.

Also discussed by staff was the mandate of converting of 1 block of Wallace Avenue from Main to Elma Street to 1 way as a trial. Traffic levels have been measured to ensure traffic levels had returned to pre-pandemic levels and as of late they are achieving 2018 levels of vehicle traffic. The traffic signal would lose 1 signal cycle to speed up traffic and 1 direction of traffic would be diverted with the 1 way conversion.

They are set to review the topic at the August 9^th council meeting to change the by-law and signage on the streets. The conversion would occur the week of August 16^th to 20^th.