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Photo by MTO

Will there be one in my neighbourhood?

Possibly. Barrhaven is set to get six crossovers, followed by Orléans with four and three each for Kanata North, Kanata South, Stittsville, Gloucester-Southgate and Somerset.

In the first round, there are only three wards not slated to get a crossover — College, River and West Carleton-March.

The city’s website has a complete list and corresponding map.

If I’m a pedestrian, what do I do at a crossover?

According to the city, pedestrians should make eye contact or some other indication to vehicles that they want to cross the road and ensure drivers and cyclists see them before they enter the roadway. They’re also supposed to only cross once traffic has come to a complete stop. Pedestrians caught walking, running or moving into the path of a vehicle that doesn’t have enough time to stop safely could be fined $35.

What if I’m behind the wheel or riding a bike?

Drivers and cyclists should be on the lookout for pedestrian crossovers and must wait until the pedestrian has completely crossed the road or, in the case of four-lane roads, made it safely to the median before proceeding. Failing to do so could be costly; fines range from $150 to $500 with three demerit points for not yielding to pedestrians at crossovers. Cyclists, meanwhile, could be fined $85 for failing to dismount and walk their bicycle when using a pedestrian crossover.

Is this a case of déjà vu?

Yes. This is the second coming of pedestrian crossovers (PXOs) in Ottawa. A large number were installed in the early 1960s but later removed due to safety concerns. At the time, the city opted instead to use traffic-control signals.