Region could test no right turns at red lights at major intersections
Posted Jun 2, 2026 04:14:16 AM.
Last Updated Jun 2, 2026 11:18:28 AM.
The Region of Waterloo wants to know if banning right turns at red lights at major intersections could help make roads safer.
A pilot project is set to come up for discussion at a council committee meeting on Tuesday, which would test out such a ban at a dozen spots around Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.
A staff report to council says twelve intersections were chosen for either recorded vehicle/pedestrian crashes or for their potential for collisions due to high volumes of pedestrians and vehicles turning right.
Right turns on red lights would be prohibited for traffic coming from all directions.
If approved, the pilot program would start in September, after signs are installed and the public is made aware, and go on for at least one year.
Possible bans on red light turns in Region of Waterloo:
Kitchener
- Fairway Road at Wilson Avenue
- Fairway Road at Lackner Boulevard/Fairway Crescent
- Benton Street / Frederick Street at King Street
- Victoria Street at Lawrence Avenue
Waterloo
- Northfield Drive at Davenport Road
- Weber Street at University Avenue
- University Avenue at Albert Street
- University Avenue at Phillip Street/Commercial Access
Cambridge
- Franklin Boulevard and Glamis Road/Robson Avenue
- Water Street at Park Hill Road
- Ainslie Street at Main Street
- Hespeler Road at Eagle Street / Pinebush Road
Staff would collect data on road safety, traffic operations, and operational considerations, and report back to council on the effectiveness of the pilot program in late 2027.
The report says there are already 19 right-turn-on-red restricted locations operated by the region, including some for ION LRT crossings, plus other intersections under the jurisdiction of the cities and townships.
This initiative stems from a meeting of councillors last August where regional councillors Colleen James and Berry Vrbanovic got into a disagreement about whether this could lead to an outright ban on right turns at red lights.
It’s expected to come up at Tuesday afternoon’s Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee in Regional council chambers.
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