After testing out a solar-powered illuminated crosswalk system on Main Street outside the city’s Sports Centre for the past year, Martensville City Council is looking to install two more units at intersections on 3rd Street North near the skate park and on Baycroft Drive at North Hills Park.
At a Martensville City Council committee of the whole meeting on Tuesday, September 14, councillors agreed to proceed with an already-budgeted $32,000 expenditure for the two sets of illuminated crosswalk systems.
In a report to the September 14 council meeting, Martnesville Infrastructure and Planning Director Matt Gruza said the Carmanah Solar Rapid Flashing Beacon (R920-E model) that was provided to the city last winter on a 90-day free trial worked extremely well.
He noted the system is roughly half the price of a comparable hard-wired system, adding that two new units could be purchased with the amount already allocated in the city’s 2021 civic budget. The system also has the advantage of being able to be installed by City of Martensville employees. It is also portable and could be moved to a different location if necessary.