East Willowdale residents are petitioning Toronto to replace a pedestrian crossover with traffic lights after an eight-year-old girl and her grandmother were seriously injured in a collision there on Oct. 26.

The petition has nearly 600 signatures and is under review by city staff, CityNews reporter Shauna Hunt reported Nov. 9. It concerns the crossing at Willowdale and Elmwood avenues in North York.

Residents told CityNews that drivers frequently pass through the crossover while its lights are flashing. During the outlet’s attempt to cross on Nov. 9, four vehicles drove through the flashing lights.

Willowdale Avenue connects Sheppard and Finch avenues, and the crossing sits at the top of a hill. One neighbourhood driver told CityNews the lights can be difficult to see from a smaller car.

One resident described sometimes accompanying children and older pedestrians across the road after watching drivers fail to stop.

“Cars never really stop, you really need to look them in the eye to stop,” another resident told the outlet.

Willowdale Coun. Lily Cheng said she hopes to speed up the process by bringing a motion to North York Community Council.

“When you have a very serious accident, you know that there is a problem there, and you want to solve it faster,” Cheng told CityNews. She said a motion could help by “preempting the need for a study.”

The petition also seeks interim safety measures, including lower speeds or a crossing guard during peak hours. Some residents have suggested police enforcement at the crossing.

The girl and her grandmother were taken to hospital with serious injuries following the Oct. 26 collision, CityNews reported.

Sources