The lack of a crosswalk in downtown Palmerston still concerns resident Robert Cherry.
He has campaigned for a crosswalk for years. Successive letters over the years express his frustration, similar the the frustration expressed by local councillors who have no control over the situation.
While the intersection of Main, William, and Jane Streets is in downtown Palmerston, the main street is also County Road 123 – under jurisdiction of Wellington County.
Mayor David Anderson noted the most recent letter from Cherry regarding crosswalks.
In his letter to council, he stated, “Where in Palmerston would a pedestrian, or for that matter, someone driving a vehicle, be afraid to venture? The answer is at the intersection at the corner of Main William and Jane Streets.”
While Anderson agreed that while crosswalks are a municipal decision, he said it remains a county decision – the upper tier municipality – because the main street is a county road.
Deputy-mayor Judy Dirksen asked if an additional response should be sent to Cherry.
Anderson said one of the things that Cherry was told by Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty that it is the municipality’s responsibility, “but it’s an upper tier responsibility. The county at this time feels there is no need for a crosswalk.”
Cherry has been told that for the last number of years, Anderson said.
Councillor Rick Hembly said it is the town that paints the lines, and “and maybe with the streetscape work … we can see what we can do.”
Anderson claried the type of work the town could do would only be to make the intersection more visible.
