A lighted crosswalk is set to be installed on McKenzie Boulevard in Steinbach at the Giesbrecht Street intersection.

In July, Steinbach City Council asked administration to conduct a study on the intersection following an email they received from a nearby resident requesting a 4-way stop.

At Tuesday’s council meeting Chief Administrative Officer Troy Warkentin presented the findings.

"As a result of the review, while engineering staff did not find that there was sufficient traffic to warrant the installation of a 4-way stop, traffic counts and pedestrian counts are sufficient and the recommendation is that an active crossing treatment system be installed with a push-button activation system, lighting system, crosswalk markings, and all appropriate signage."

The intersection was monitored on September 23rd during the two peak hours in the morning and afternoon. It found that 17 pedestrians crossed the street per hour in the morning and 25 in the afternoon. In addition, 7 bicycles crossed the street per hour in the morning and 8 in the afternoon.

As far as traffic is concerned the study concluded that the average vehicle wait time at Giesbrecht Street and McKenzie Boulevard was less than 30 seconds over an eight-hour period.

Councillor Jac (Jake) Siemens forwarded a motion to go forward with the button-activated crosswalk.

"This is a good first step. As our community grows to the west down McKenzie there will be a lot more traffic down that street moving forward. I think this is a first step, but we will have to keep an eye on this and see what traffic counts do down the road as well."

Councillor Susan Penner then seconded the motion noting there are many families with young kids in that area of the city and this will help keep their walk to school safe. 

"What is really great is that it doesn't stop traffic unnecessarily if there is no one crossing or no pedestrians. It can keep traffic moving quite smoothly but at the same time when there is additional safety needed and they need to cross then it provides that option to do so safely."

Steinbach City Council was unanimous in supporting the lighted crosswalk plan.