Traffic lights on Algonquin changing up

After a number of years pushing the issue, the city is getting on board with a request to extend the time for pedestrians to cross Algonquin.

The resolution is looking at an extra 10 seconds to cross north-south for lights on the Connecting Link from the Porcupine Mall westward to Shirley Street.

The Municipal Accessibility Advisory Committee’s Dan MacKay says the timers haven’t changed in 25 years, adding it just isn’t justified anymore.

An extra 10 seconds will be added the east-west route as well.

“The demographics of vehicles in this town alone (have changed),” he said, “We have many two or three car families now.”

Much of the delays on this came due to keeping a standard minimum, based on reports that have come across council’s desk many times.

This ignited a very telling rant from Councillor Noella Rinaldo, who asked how council became locked into being “standard and minimum.”

“I am tired of being minimum and standard,” the former MAAC committee member said, “I think it’s time, it’s a priority shift…I think the priority should be pedestrians.”

Algonquin is of course Highway 101, and the main road for truckers.

“We are slowing traffic right down, I don’t care if it’s 20 kilometres an hour.  Welcome to Timmins, this is a pedestrian-friendly city, you are driving through our downtown.”