Mount Saint Vincent University student starts petition to get traffic light at school entrance

A student at Mount Saint Vincent University has started an online petition to try and get a traffic light installed at the main entrance of the school.

Madeline Mitchell said the crosswalk with flashing lights at the busy intersection along the Bedford Highway is ineffective and dangerous for pedestrians.

“Crossing from the school to get to the bus stop across the highway is treacherous,” she explained. “I have been nearly hit a few times, I've seen people nearly hit.”

Mitchell thinks poor lighting adds to the danger, especially this time of year when it gets dark during the afternoon rush hour.

She said, with the heavy flow of traffic and bus stops on either side of the road at the intersection, the situation isn't much better for drivers trying to enter or leave the campus.

“As a driver, being such a high traffic area, it gets frustrating waiting your turn and trying to figure out when you can make it through,” she said. “People take advantage of any little break they think they have and zoom on through and somebody might still be walking.”

Mitchell hopes Halifax Regional Municipality and Mount Saint Vincent University seriously consider the request to install a traffic light, which she thinks will improve safety at the intersection.