Signalised pedestrian crossings in the Toowoomba Region have now returned to normal operation.
Toowoomba Regional Council (TRC) Infrastructure Committee Chair Cr Carol Taylor said the decision had been made due to a combination of feedback from the community, the State's lead in relaxing COVID-19 restrictions and traffic flows returning to normal.
"Earlier this year a decision was made to automate a number of pedestrian crossings to remove the need to touch buttons with your hands," Cr Taylor said.
"We also placed stickers on all buttons to encourage residents to use their elbows when accessing crossings which weren't automated.
"The safety of our residents is the number one priority for us, so these decisions were made in light of the Department of Transport and Main Roads' response to help limit the potential spread of the Coronavirus.
"Following low transmission rates experienced across Queensland and feedback from the community, we've decided to remove the automated feature.
"We still encourage residents to use their elbows when touching the buttons and will place 'bump' stickers at the intersections where the automated feature will be discontinued.
"There's no doubt the safety of our community is paramount, however with the lack of community transmission in the Toowoomba area, the timing is now right to remove the automated feature.
"With this change Council anticipates traffic flow will improve as a result of the signal coordination returning to normal."
