Part 2: County Road 3 Safety Review, Carrying Place Study, and School Zone Measures Approved — 09/27/2023

This article of the Traffic Advisory Committee meeting coverage from September 27, 2023 focuses on who spoke to specific items, how motions were voted on, and how decisions relate to specific communities within the County.

County Road 3 and Carrying Place discussions

Residents living at 3462 County Road 3 described recurring westbound vehicle collisions at a curve near their property, prompting committee members to ask clarifying questions about travel direction, visibility, and road geometry. The committee ultimately voted to receive the public request and directed staff to return with a verbal report assessing sightlines and whether additional signage is warranted. This decision affects residents along County Road 3 by initiating a formal site review rather than immediate sign installation.

A resident from Carrying Place also presented detailed concerns about speeding, passing behavior, pedestrian safety, and increased traffic along Loyalist Parkway between Rednersville Road and Taft Road. Committee members discussed whether changes such as no passing zones, community safety zones, or additional enforcement should be implemented incrementally or studied together, while the OPP representative noted that aggressive passing often occurs where traffic bunches after curved sections. The committee voted to receive the public requests and directed staff to prepare a future staff report examining speed limits, passing lanes, and community safety zones for this stretch of road, meaning further technical review will take place before any changes are made.

© PEC Council (YouTube)

View the entire PEC Council Meeting; or view our recap>

Baker Road and West Lake matters

Staff presented reports addressing parking conditions on Baker Road, including a newly constructed cul de sac used for vehicle turnaround and pedestrian access. Committee members raised questions about enforcement, emergency access, and winter operations, with staff confirming that enforcement would be proactive and handled internally by by law services. The committee voted to recommend parking restrictions within the cul de sac only, while deferring broader parking decisions to Council through the Tourism Management Plan. This affects beach access and parking management near Baker Road, with longer term decisions expected in early 2024.

Traffic safety concerns along County Road 12 in West Lake were also presented, focusing on speeding, wildlife impacts, and limited pedestrian infrastructure. Committee members discussed signage, speed limits, and seasonal traffic pressures tied to Sandbanks Provincial Park. The committee voted to receive the public request and directed staff to return with a traffic calming options report for the section between Ridge Road and Sandbanks, meaning residents can expect further review before the next tourism season.

Spencer Common and school safety decisions

Residents raised concerns about speeding near Spencer Common, particularly during Main Street construction, but staff advised that recent traffic data did not show excessive speeding outside of detour conditions. The OPP representative also confirmed there were no longstanding enforcement issues. The committee voted to receive the request without further direction, noting that the issue may resolve once construction traffic patterns return to normal.

The committee then reviewed a staff report recommending a school safety zone and community safety zone on County Road 15 near Sophiasburgh Central School. Members asked about signage, timing, and consistency with other school zones, and staff explained that the approach aligns with road classification, existing speed limits, and provincial standards.

The committee approved the installation of school zone signage, time based speed reductions, and the community safety zone designation, directly affecting families and drivers during school hours.

Union Road and committee updates

A separate staff report recommended seasonal temporary speed humps on Union Road due to safety concerns and roadway geometry. Committee members asked about placement, slope limitations, and seasonal removal, with staff confirming that the humps would be installed during peak seasons and removed before winter. The committee approved the recommendation, meaning residents will see seasonal traffic calming measures put in place.

The committee also appointed two members to the Delhi Park Community Connections Task Team, which will explore pedestrian and cycling connections in Picton, including links to Delhi Park, the harbour, and the Millennium Trail. Members approved the Chair’s annual report to Council and supported renaming the committee to the Transportation Advisory Committee, subject to Council approval. A special meeting was scheduled for November 8, 2023, to address a backlog of public requests and set priorities for 2024.

What it means for residents

Overall, the meeting shows that many traffic concerns raised by residents are being formally acknowledged but will require further study before action is taken. Several areas, including County Road 3, Carrying Place, and West Lake, will undergo additional review through staff reports, while more immediate changes such as school safety zones and seasonal speed humps have already been approved. For residents, this means some improvements will happen soon, especially around schools and high risk areas, while others will take more time as the County works through data, enforcement, and long term planning.

---

Disclaimer: This article is based on a meeting with an approximate duration of 1:50:03. 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.