WATERLOO - Pedestrian gates where Ion trains travel through the Erb and Caroline intersection in uptown Waterloo were removed after being deemed unnecessary.

"There's enough warning that we didn't need to gate the pedestrians," said Paula Sawicki, manager of rapid transit co-ordination for Waterloo Region.

The crossing was reviewed by the designing engineer and it was decided the bells and lights were enough to warn pedestrians of a light rail train coming through the intersection.

"Those bells are pretty loud," Sawicki said.

Gates will continue to come down for vehicle traffic, which will be another cue for pedestrians. Ion trains also move more slowly along that part of the route.

"All the light rail vehicles are going quite slow through here," Sawicki said. "A pedestrian would be able to see it."

All four of the standalone pedestrian gates at different corners of the intersection were removed late last week. The region had heard a few concerns from the public about the excessive warnings.

"Some of the councillors were involved and they had the same feeling that maybe we didn't need all these," Sawicki said.

Waterloo Mayor Dave Jaworsky was pleased to hear the gates were removed. He spoke with the region's transportation commissioner about the issue months ago.

"There's so much going on at the intersection and they're not really that additive," Jaworsky said. "There's already a lot going on. You know to stop."

As well, there was the worry a pedestrian could be struck by a gate coming down.

Pedestrian gates are also located at Block Line Road and Courtland Avenue in Kitchener, but there have been no concerns raised about that crossing. In Waterloo, there are pedestrian gates near University Avenue and in Waterloo Park.

Sawicki said the gates by the University of Waterloo campus "make more sense up there to people." Students on the pedestrian walkway stop at the gates due to nearby fencing and trains pass at a higher speed than in the city's core.

"We don't have any plans to remove any other gates," Sawicki said.

jweidner@therecord.com

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