ION - Waterloo Region's Light Rail Transit

[Canard]

...most people get frustrated waiting for the walk signal that they just cross when the "coast is clear".

I hate to say it, but as a motorist this is one of the most annoying things ever.  We don't mind stopping for pedestrians who have requested a signal - but nothing is more wasteful than when a pedestrian comes up to a crosswalk, hits the button, looks both ways and crosses on the flashing red hand anyway.   They're long gone and traffic comes to a standstill, forcing them to decelerate, idle, and then accelerate - needlessly wasting fuel.

I also believe firmly that if a light has been priority green in one direction for a long time (because no cross-traffic triggered a light change at a smart signal), a pedistrian cross request should be effected immediately, not after a delay. There's no reason to make a person stand there and wait (except entice them to dangerously cross traffic against the signal). There is no penalty to the traffic (who wouldn't know otherwise that there was a delay or not). The only timer that is required is a recycle timer that doesn't permit requests to occur to close together.

Construction on the Waterloo Spur north of Columbia Ave.

You have an awesome view of construction!