Install red light camera at dangerous intersection in Casa Loma area, residents, councillor tell city

Residents and theirlocal councillor are asking the city for help curbing drivers at anintersection in the Casa Loma area that's plagued by frequentaccidents.

Standing at the corner of Bathurst and Nina streets on a weekday afternoon, cars line Bathurst Street in both directions, sometimes leaving just enough room for pedestrians to manoeuvre across the street many pushing strollers or walking hand-in-hand with a small child, or both.

The intersection is right beside Hillcrest Community school.There are signsthat warn of the school zone, but many residents say it's not enough.

"It's very dangerous, some drivers are very crazy," saidYuriko Yagi, who saysshe was nearly hit by a car there while pushing a stroller.

Yagi is among many residents calling for a red light cameraat the T intersection.

Norma Galera has worked in the area for 10 years and saysthe traffic has always been "crazy."

"There are just some crazy drivers that just go zoom!" she explained, adding the best thing would be to have an automated red light camera.

David McCue has beena crossing guard at that intersection for the past five years.

"Everybody's in a hurry. It's all entitlement and 'all about me,'" he said in between green lights.

Police investigating hit and run

On Friday Oct. 23, McCue said, somekids were crossing the intersection when a car turning south onto BathurstStreet clipped one of them and sped off. It happened around 8:30 p.m., well after McCue was done for the day.

"He's OK.Thank god he wasn't injured," he said.

Police confirmed to CBC News that the hit and run was reported and they are currently investigating.

McCue said incidents like that happen "regularly" and addedthat a red light camera would catch the culprit responsible and deter others who might think of doing the same.

There arealso several Facebook community groups calling for an intervention at the intersection.

A spokesperson for the Wychwood-Hillcrest Kids at Play Facebook group wrote to CBC Newsthata red light camera isn't the only change needed.Anew staggered red light at a second T intersection just north of Nina Street at AlcinaAvenue is key to slowing traffic going southbound on Bathurst Street, the spokesperson wrote.

Two years ago a Twitter video of the intersection went viral. It showed vehicles driving south on Bathurst, with many of them speeding through yellow and red lights over and over again. It's been viewed more than 66,000 times.

Coun. Josh Matlow has been fighting for a red light camera ever since he started representing the area in 2018. He said he hears concerns about the intersection from constituentsdaily and he's determined to do something about it.

Matlow has been told there are issues with the infrastructure in that area, which will make it difficult to mount a camera on the poles along BathurstStreet.

But he's alsobeen told the city is working on it and the red light camera is expected to be installed by the end of the year. If that's not the case, Matlowsaid he will be looking for answers.

As for McCue, the crossing guard,he's still trying tomakesure pedestrians are safe. He worries about what could happen if nothing is done.

"Somebody could get killed, plain and simple," he said.