“I believe the city plans on maintaining the pedestrian (controlled traffic light) with some modifications to allow for buses to turn that corner,” Arbeau said.

Metrolinx spokesperson Fannie Sunshine said discussions with McMaster around the proposed transit hub are ongoing and details of the project are not finalized.

“While we anticipate there may be some modifications to the existing pedestrian (controlled traffic light) on Cootes Drive to accommodate turning buses, a pedestrian crossing will be maintained to ensure the safety of anyone crossing the street,” Sunshine said.

She confirmed alterations to the Cootes-Main intersection include removal of the existing access from the north side of Main Street but added that right turns from Main to Cootes will be permitted at the traffic lights.

Metrolinx confirmed last year it would pay for the bus shelter construction, as well as construction of a new parking garage to replace the parking spaces lost to redevelopment of that corner of campus.

Exact budget details are not known, but Metrolinx’s LRT budget will apparently support the transit hub’s estimated $8.9-million bus terminal and parking garage, as well as the Cootes-Main redesign. McMaster is seeking funding for more than $91 million in proposed academic and commercial buildings in the same area as the transit hub.

Mark Ferguson, senior research associate at McMaster’s Institute for Transportation and Logistics was not aware of plans for a transit hub and nearby intersection, but said he is familiar with the area.

“It does sound like things are going to get messier at that intersection for the sake of the greater good as it relates to the LRT,” Ferguson said.

He suggested a concern about traffic backups at Cootes and Main when the right-turn access ramp is removed.

“Another issue is the intersection of Main and Emerson is less than 100 metres to the east … and there is already a pretty complex interplay between vehicles and pedestrians that takes place there,” Ferguson said. “Any new congestion spillovers will not be desirable.”

He wondered if pedestrian tunnels may be required to alleviate some stress from all the new vehicles and pedestrians in the area.

Ferguson also noted large traffic volumes at peak times turning left from Cootes onto Main.

“Adaptive signalling control at traffic lights could be a useful tool to moderate the situation in the future,” he said.

Several Ainslie Wood residents at a public information centre on the city’s neighbourhood traffic safety study questioned why the study proceeded without consideration of major changes coming to the area — including LRT and several large residential developments — that will affect traffic and pedestrian flow.

Purins said conditions can be reviewed again after LRT, the transit hub and other developments have proceeded and change traffic flow in the area.

“We’re not saying this is the end of this,” he said. “McMaster creates a different issue in the area.”