ABERFOLYE – Road safety turned out to be a recurring theme at the Aug. 27 Puslinch council meeting, as unrelated road items came up on the agenda.
Council wound up identifying a few trouble spots in the township during the meeting and in the end passed motions to nudge higher authorities to take some action.
First up was Christine Veit, program coordinator of Safe Communities, a county-led initiative with volunteers who attend public events, speak at schools, and spread the safety message throughout the county.
They also advocate for safety measures and Veit said she has delegated at the county roads committee for speed reductions, traffic lights, crosswalks and roundabouts at various locations throughout the county.
Councillors’ ears perked up at the thought that Veit might have some sway with the roads committee.
Councillor John Sepulis listed several initiatives council would like to see to make roads safer through Aberfoyle, like crosswalks and the so-called “road diet” that would see Brock Road narrowed to one lane in each direction with a centre turn lane and parking on the side of the road.
This stretch of road is Wellington Road 46 so any changes have to come from the county.
Veit said she had lobbied the roads committee for pavement markings as a way to encourage drivers to slow down.
She noted the county is planning to run a pilot program and add gateway markings as a way to signal to drivers to slow down as they enter Aberfoyle.
Veit said studies have shown gateway markings decrease speeds by 5km/h.
She said funding for the pilot will come from fines from speed cameras and as the cameras in Puslinch and Minto have generated the largest number of tickets, “chances are it will be here,” she said.
Mayor James Seeley raised concerns about an increase in collisions at the intersections of Wellington Road 35 and Concessions 1 and 2, as commuters opt for rural routes to avoid construction delays on Highway 401 through Guelph and beyond.
He wondered if Veit could help with getting lights at those intersections.
Seeley also hoped Veit could advocate for more frequent painting of lanes in roundabouts, as trucks and traffic wear away the lines making the roads less safe.
And he wanted some consistency when it comes to speed limit delineators, the speed signs often positioned in the middle of the road so the lane feels narrower and drivers slow down.
Veit said the OPP should have collision data on the two intersections on Wellington Road 35 and the county might entertain a request for more frequent line painting.
But she has no more power over the roads committee than any other delegate.
Council passed a motion requesting gateway markings and more frequent line painting by the county, and raising, once again, their desire to see Wellington Road 46/Brock Road put on a road diet through Aberfoyle.
When clerk Justine Brotherson presented the “reporting out” report, which brings council up to date on previous staff requests, council once again talked about roads.
One question was about installing traffic lights at Leslie Road and Highway 6, just south of Morriston.
The Ministry of Transportation (MTO) had previously stated that traffic counts don’t meet the criteria for traffic lights, even when Concession 1 is closed at the highway.
Councillor John Sepulis said he avoids the intersection and it’s very dangerous getting on and off Highway 6 at Leslie Road.
This is where the future Morriston bypass is to meet up with Highway 6 and the MTO seems loathe to make other changes to Highway 6 in the meantime.
But Seeley had a more positive tale to tell after meeting with MTO officials at the AMO conference in Ottawa two weeks ago.
Puslinch delegated to the MTO with county staff, stressing the need for interim traffic safety measures in Morriston – like traffic lights, crosswalks and beautification projects – until the bypass is built.
“When we highlighted the interim word, I felt they perked up,” Seeley said.
He added Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky has been advocating with the minister of transportation for a bypass and even invited the minister for a breakfast meeting in Morriston to see the situation for himself.
Seeley said a follow-up meeting is being set up with MTO and he feels buoyed by that.
Council then passed a motion for staff to pull together traffic data collected when a vet clinic wanted to locate on Highway 6 near Leslie Road so they could arm themselves with recent data.
And Sepulis requested staff ask the MTO at the follow-up meeting what the criteria is for traffic lights so they can see how close they are to that number.
