Part 1: Parking Challenges, Road Safety, and Traffic Planning – 05/29/2024
- PECConnect
- May 29, 2024
- 3 min read
The Traffic Advisory Committee met virtually on May 29, 2024. The meeting opened with some minor tech delays, then moved quickly into business. The committee amended the agenda, approved it as amended, confirmed there were no pecuniary interests, and adopted the previous meeting minutes.
View the entire PEC Council meeting, or continue to speaker comments and councillor votes.
Parking pressure on Picton Main Street
A major part of the meeting focused on parking problems on Picton Main Street, especially the lack of turnover. The discussion centered on how long-term parking is taking up prime spaces meant for short visits.
The main concern was that people are parking for hours or all day, which makes it hard for residents to do quick errands, especially seniors and people with limited mobility. The issue is made worse in summer when outdoor patios remove street parking.
The idea of adding 15-minute parking spots was discussed as a way to improve turnover and keep Main Street usable for local businesses and residents.
Accessibility and seniors
Accessibility came up repeatedly in the parking discussion. Seniors who do not qualify for accessible permits still struggle to park close enough to pharmacies and banks. Meter design, payment methods, and the difficulty of walking long distances were all raised as barriers.
Union Road speeding and safety
Another major topic was speeding on Union Road. Residents raised concerns about extreme speeding, supported by OPP radar data showing high numbers of vehicles driving far over the limit.
The discussion focused on whether Union Road should become a Community Safety Zone and whether automated speed enforcement or other tools are needed. Seasonal speed humps were acknowledged, but speakers stressed they only work part of the year.
Temporary safety for a seasonal event
The committee discussed a request for temporary safety measures near 1744 County Road 3 in Demorestville, where a popular Halloween charity display attracts large crowds. Concerns included high speeds, darkness, parked cars, and children crossing the road.
The idea was to use temporary warning signs or flashing lights during the event period rather than permanent changes.
Delhi Park active transportation plan
A large portion of the meeting was dedicated to the Delhi Park Community Connections Active Transportation Plan. This was a detailed presentation about improving paths, accessibility, and connections through Delhi Park in Picton.
The plan aims to create accessible, well-lit, year-round pathways that connect neighbourhoods, Main Street, the Millennium Trail, Macaulay Village, and key services. The emphasis was on accessibility, safety, and keeping the park’s natural feel.
The plan is conceptual and long-term, designed to be built in phases as funding becomes available. It includes strong public consultation, youth input, accessibility review, and coordination with future development.
Concerns about cost and priorities
While the Delhi Park plan received praise, there was also concern about costs, staff time, maintenance, and whether it should be endorsed when many sidewalks, roads, and facilities across the county are still not accessible.
The committee discussed how grant funding works and acknowledged that endorsement does not mean immediate construction.
Traffic calming policy discussion
The final major topic was a broader traffic calming and speed review process. The committee discussed moving away from one-off requests and toward a formal, standardized policy.
The idea is to have a clear intake process, screening criteria, data collection, a point system to rank priorities, and clear roles for staff, committee, and council. The goal is to save time, reduce confusion, and improve fairness.
The committee agreed to continue work between meetings, especially on traffic calming policies, and set the next meeting for September 25, 2024. The meeting adjourned at 6:56 pm.
Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:55:46. 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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