Residents here want to stay in the slow lane – at least along Wellington Road 34.
A group of concerned residents planned to address Puslinch council on Nov. 6 to ask that the speed limit along Wellington Road 34 between Victoria and Brock Roads remain at 60km/h.
The matter had come up at council in early October, when councillor Susan Fielding brought the concerns forward.
CAO Karen Landry explained the Puslinch roads committee recommended the township request Wellington County to apply TAC (Transportation Association of Canada) standards on the speed limit on Wellington Road 34 from Victoria to Brock Road.
It was anticipated that move would shift the speed limit from 60 to 80km/h.
Landry said staff were expected to bring back a report in November. She explained it is up to council to decide whether or not to move ahead with the recommendation to make the request of the county.
Fielding said she was the sole person opposed to the roads committee motion, which could increase the speed limit to 80km/h. She said a group of citizens have gathered numerous signatures in opposition to that move.
While it is county road, Fielding said the request to alter the speed limit has to come through Puslinch Township to apply the TAC standards.
“They are not going to change it without a reason.” She said it is up to council to vote on whether a request is made [by the municipality].
Fielding added the people putting forward the motion are hoping the speed limit will be raised.
“This is only an initiative of a couple of people. But we have our large urban centres of Mini-Lakes and Mill Creek with over 300 to 500 residents,” she said.
“We are under no obligation to ask the county to re-examine this.”
The initial recommendation came from the Puslinch roads committee.
Fielding also contended that with a gravel pit starting up on Victoria Road, there will be more truck traffic along that stretch of road. She stated that over several years when the speed limit was lowered, the number of homes in the area has grown.
“Nothing has gotten better on that stretch of road [to warrant a speed increase],” said Fielding.
Mayor Dennis Lever has previously said having the group appear before township council was not really beneficial because it is a Wellington County road and the speed limit is set by the county.
Lever noted the county has adopted the same resolution as Puslinch stating speed limits for roads would rely on the TAC guidelines.
“If there is a group interested in expressing their opinion, they would be much better off going to the county,” said Lever.
While he said he appreciated the CAO’s comments, he noted another instance where a resident wrote to complain that the speed limit was too low.
The county reviewed the matter using the TAC guidelines and raised the speed limit on a section of Arkell Road from 50 to 70km/h.
Lever stressed, “It is not our road. We can make a recommendation, but it is the county’s decision.”
“I respectfully disagree,” Fielding responded.
She contended the township would have a lot of influence.
“If we don’t send the recommendation to the county, [the speed limit change] is not going to happen.” She added, “I think we have to consider what is best for our residents.”
Lever maintained, “It is not something the township has any control over. It is not our road.”
He restated his position that the citizen group should present its case to the county.
“That is where the decision will be made,” he said.
“If you are giving [this group] advice to come here and that we will be able to affect change on this, then you are giving them advice which is not correct.”
Councillor Wayne Stokley believed the group is aware of the circumstances.
He had no issue with the group making a presentation to council, but also believed a presentation needs to be made to the county as well – to get the point across.
In the presentation to council, citizens were expected to argue against the township’s roads department recommendation to request the county reevaluate the speed limits on that section of road using TAC guidelines.
The written presentation by David Haley noted that just six years ago, a group of residents living on this portion of Wellington Road 34 successfully petitioned the county roads committee for a reduction in the speed limit from 80 to 60km/h.
Those presenting were expected to argue that since 2007:
– the volume of daily traffic on 34E has grown, as has the number of residents and the number of seniors living from Brock/Gordon to Victoria;
– no acceleration/deceleration lanes have been installed despite the high volume of traffic entering/exiting the four entrances to Millcreek and Mini Lakes;
– no signs have been erected to warn drivers of two hidden driveways located directly across from the entrances to Mini Lakes and Millcreek; and
– dotted center lines continue to invite drivers to pass gravel trucks and other vehicles.
A traffic study undertaken by 14 members of the Millcreek Residents’ Association in July and August of 2007, when the speed limit was 80km/h, revealed that:
– 328 homes occupied by 490 residents were located on this section of 34E (354 of whom were seniors);
– 2,416 vehicles travelled on 34E from 6am to 5pm, with 16% being gravel trucks;
– approximately 519 vehicles per 10-hour day exceeded the 80km/h speed limit, with about 100 vehicles travelling 20 km or more per hour above the speed limit;
– the five km flat stretch of Wellington Road 34 from east of Victoria to Gordon/Brock, encouraged speeding, especially that of motor bikes that travel at excessive speeds;
– approximately 760 vehicles per 10 hour-day entered/exited Mini Lakes and Millcreek driveways; and
– a high volume of vehicular traffic came from the residential developments on Victoria, north of Wellington Road 34E.
