On Monday, December 8, North Glengarry Council approved the installation of pedestrian crossing warning lights on MacDonald Boulevard in Alexandria to improve access to the Glengarry Sports Palace (GSP) and the Tim Hortons Dome. A second set will be installed on Main Street in Maxville.
The two sets of equipment will cost the township approximately $22,000.
Director of Public Works Timothy Wright said the department conducted a pedestrian network study in 2023, which identified the need for a crossing on MacDonald Boulevard to better connect residents with the recreational facilities. He noted that the route is a busy county route with heavy transport traffic moving through the area.
Wright explained that the equipment, called Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), uses bright, rapidly flashing LED lights to make pedestrian crossings more visible to drivers. He noted that RRFBs significantly increase driver yielding rates, reduce crash risks by nearly 50 per cent, and are a relatively low-cost alternative compared to full traffic signals.
After further review by municipal staff, Wright said a second set of RRFBs should be installed in Maxville, providing a pedestrian crossing on Main Street (County Road 20) in front of the Canada Post office, another busy route.
Council unanimously approved both installation sites without further discussion.
The RRFBs will be purchased from Logix ITS Inc. for $22,020.35 and are expected to be installed in the spring or early summer of 2026.
