Part 1: Traffic Safety Requests, Parking Changes, and Speed Concerns Reviewed — 07/12/2023
- PECConnect
- Jul 12, 2023
- 6 min read
The Traffic Advisory Committee met virtually on July 12, 2023, with the meeting livestreamed and recorded for the public. The committee was meeting to review a long list of resident driven traffic requests, staff reports, and ongoing safety concerns across the County.
The meeting was chaired by Councillor Janice Maynard, who guided the discussion and confirmed that the meeting was being held electronically under the County’s procedural bylaw. County staff and committee members joined remotely, with several residents registered to speak on specific agenda items. The agenda was approved, no pecuniary interests were declared, and the minutes from the April 12, 2023 meeting were adopted early in the session.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes>
Encouraging public participation in traffic decisions
Early in the meeting, the chair reminded committee members that public engagement is a key part of transportation planning. Members were encouraged to attend and promote public information meetings related to traffic and transportation, including a Ministry of Transportation virtual consultation on safety improvements at Highway 62 and County Road 1.
This set the tone for the meeting, which would heavily rely on public requests and resident feedback.
Explaining how traffic requests reach the committee
Jennifer Bennett, Council and Committee Coordinator, delivered a presentation explaining how traffic concerns from the public move through the County system before reaching the Traffic Advisory Committee.
She explained that all requests start with a customer service action request, which allows staff to track concerns, group related issues, and determine whether a request is new or already in progress. Requests are then scheduled for committee review, and residents are notified so they can provide additional information or speak at the meeting.
The presentation walked through how the committee may simply receive information, or recommend that Council direct staff to investigate further. Bennett emphasized that this process helps ensure transparency while keeping a clear record of what has already been reviewed.
Committee members asked questions about whether requests are screened before reaching the agenda. Staff explained that the main filter is whether the issue has already been heard, with the committee retaining discretion to decide what action, if any, is needed.
Residents speak about safety concerns
Two residents addressed the committee during the public comments portion of the meeting.
One resident spoke about pedestrian safety at the King and Paul Street intersection, raising concerns about narrow sidewalks, poor sightlines, and the lack of crosswalk markings. The speaker described how students regularly move through the area and asked the committee to consider ways to improve safety without prescribing a specific solution.
Another resident, Patrick Maloney, spoke on behalf of neighbours along Stanley Street, Shannon Street, and Brick Street in Bloomfield. He described increased traffic volumes, higher vehicle speeds, and growing safety concerns linked to new businesses, trail use, and tourism. He shared results from a door to door survey showing strong neighbourhood support for reducing speed limits and adding traffic calming measures.
Committee members asked clarifying questions but deferred detailed discussion to later agenda items.
Reviewing new public traffic requests
The committee worked through several public requests one by one.
A request for lighting at the intersection of Highway 62 and County Road 2 was discussed first. Staff explained that the County now has an annual budget for intersection illumination and prioritizes locations based on traffic volume and safety. The request was received, with staff directed to follow up with the resident and explain how the intersection fits into the broader lighting program.
A request for a school zone speed limit near Sophiasburgh Central School prompted a longer discussion. Committee members noted the high posted speed, limited sightlines, and proximity to curves. The committee agreed the issue warranted further study and recommended that Council direct staff to prepare a written report examining possible school zone or speed reduction options.
A request to reduce the speed limit on Taft Road generated mixed views. Some members shared anecdotal feedback suggesting limited safety issues, while others pointed to the lack of road shoulders and pedestrian use. The committee ultimately agreed to ask staff to review available data and report back before any decision is made.
Requests to change signage at County Road 19 and County Road 2 were reviewed and received, with committee members noting existing stop controls and intersection complexity.
Sorting through parking and safety reports
The most complex discussion of the meeting focused on Report CLS 16 2023, which covered multiple parking and safety issues in Wellington and other areas.
Staff outlined resident driven concerns on West Street, Water Street, and Narrow Street, where parking restrictions had been proposed due to emergency access and safety issues. Committee members questioned what had changed since earlier studies and expressed concern about pushing parking problems from one street to another.
After discussion, the committee chose to receive the report but remove West Street and Water Street from the recommended parking changes, narrowing the focus.
The committee supported parking adjustments on Consecon Street and Oak Street, where one sided parking was seen as improving safety without eliminating parking entirely.
Proposed changes on Baker Road tied to a campground agreement raised concerns about restricting access to a popular beach area. The committee decided to remove that recommendation altogether, leaving current parking rules in place.
The committee also supported winter parking restrictions near intersections on North Big Island Road, Cahie Road, Allison Road, and Sprague Road, citing snow removal challenges and safety risks.
Traffic calming and signage decisions
Several staff reports addressed traffic calming and signage across the County.
A report on Stanley Street in Bloomfield concluded that the road was functioning as designed, with speeds generally within limits. The committee agreed that traffic calming should be considered only when the street is reconstructed as part of a future capital project.
At County Road 3 and Eastern Avenue, the committee supported installing no parking signage and adjusting bylaw restrictions to improve sightlines at the intersection.
Staff recommended installing playground ahead warning signs on Nile Street in Wellington, near the Field of Dreams and recreation facilities. The committee approved the recommendation.
A review of the King and Paul Street intersection found that sightlines met standards and stop conditions did not need to change, though sidewalk width could only be addressed through future capital improvements. The committee received the report.
A data review for Prospect Avenue showed low traffic volumes and no need for traffic calming at this time.
Committee housekeeping and next steps
The committee appointed Kevin Morris as its representative on the Street Naming Task Team, which will help develop a list of acceptable street names for future use.
The chair confirmed the next meeting would be held on September 27, 2023, and proposed holding it in person at Shire Hall. A tentative schedule of four meetings for 2024 was also shared for Council consideration.
The meeting adjourned after completing the full agenda.
Key Takeaways
Many traffic concerns start with residents and are formally tracked. Issues raised by the public go through a structured system before reaching the committee, ensuring they are documented and reviewed, even if action takes time.
Safety and access are often weighed against parking and convenience. Improving visibility, traffic flow, or emergency access can sometimes mean adjusting or reducing parking in certain areas.
Safety and access are often weighed against parking and convenience. Improving visibility, traffic flow, or emergency access can sometimes mean adjusting or reducing parking in certain areas.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:46:44. Due to the length of the meeting, our team was not able to independently review the full recording in its entirety. As a result, we relied on software-generated transcription, automated summarization, and automated recognition of speakers and participants, which may not be entirely accurate. All transcriptions, summaries, and related content are prepared by our team in good faith and on a reasonable best-efforts basis. The content is provided for general informational purposes only and is intended to support public understanding of the topics discussed. While reasonable efforts have been made to present the information accurately, automated processes may result in errors, omissions, or unintended misinterpretations. This article does not constitute an official, certified, or verbatim record of the meeting, and it should not be relied upon as such. Readers are encouraged to consult original source materials, official minutes, or recordings where available for confirmation or clarification. Questions, requests for clarification, or suggested corrections may be submitted to hello@pecconnect.ca for review and consideration.
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