The Grantham Rail Trail crosses Carlton Street between Grantham Ave and Bunting Rd, but there is currently no marked or protected pedestrian crossing at this location.

The trail is regularly used by walkers, runners, cyclists, families, children, seniors and dog walkers. When trail users reach Carlton Street, they must cross a busy Regional road without painted crossing lines, pedestrian warning lights or a signal requiring drivers to stop.

Because the trail continues directly on the opposite side of the road, people naturally cross at this location. However, drivers may not expect pedestrians or cyclists to be entering the roadway, and trail users must wait for a gap in traffic and judge whether approaching vehicles will slow down.

This creates an unnecessary safety risk, particularly for children, seniors and people with mobility limitations. Cyclists may also be less visible or may enter the crossing more quickly than drivers anticipate.

The community is asking Niagara Region to assess this location and install an appropriate protected pedestrian crossover. This could include pavement markings, warning signs, flashing pedestrian beacons and any other safety measures recommended through a traffic and engineering review.

A properly marked crossing would make the Grantham Rail Trail safer, improve driver awareness and allow residents to use this important community trail without having to take unnecessary risks when crossing Carlton Street.