Despite concerns raised by local residents, Puslinch councillors have been told by Waterloo Region that traffic signals are not yet needed at the intersection of Ellis and Townline Roads.
The intersection lies on a boundary road between Wellington County [Puslinch] and Waterloo Region.
Puslinch councillors recently received an email from regional engineering technologist Patricia Heft regarding the need for additional traffic control.
“Our review focused on the need for traffic control signals to assist both vehicular and pedestrian movements entering/exiting the intersection,” Heft said.
She added a turning movement count was conducted on Oct. 11 to capture vehicular and pedestrian volume entering the Townline Road/Ellis Road/Sideroad 10 intersection during the busiest eight hours of a typical day.
She added the traffic and pedestrian numbers were applied to the region’s traffic control signal warrant criteria, which is used to establish the need for traffic control signals.
That criteria is based on traffic volumes on both the main street and side streets, pedestrian volumes, roadway characteristics and the collision history.
“Our assessment indicates that traffic and pedestrian volume currently entering the Townline Road/Ellis Road/Sideroad 10 intersection do not meet the need for traffic control signals at this time,” Heft said.
She stressed, “It is important to note that the function of traffic control signals is to assign the right-of-way between conflicting movements and that installing traffic control signals for reasons other than assigning the right-of-way may lead to a higher delay to vehicular traffic.”
She stated that in some instances, the collision frequency may increase with the installation of traffic control signals.
Regional staff were also able to identify that most vehicle/pedestrian collisions occur at signalized intersections. For this reason, traffic control signals are rarely warranted as a safety measure alone, she said.
Heft added a review of the five-year collision history (2007 to 2011) at the Townline Road/Ellis Road/Sideroad 10 intersection does not indicate any unusual collision patterns.
“According to our records, there have been three collisions where three would be expected during this period. If we were to signalize this intersection we would expect this intersection to experience 20 collisions over a five-year period based on collision data from other signalized intersections in the Region of Waterloo operating under similar conditions.”
Therefore, based on the regional review, Region of Waterloo engineering staff did not recommend the installation of additional traffic control at the Townline Road/Ellis Road/Sideroad 10 intersection at this time.
Heft however, commented traffic volume entering the intersection is approaching the region’s signal warrant justification where signals would be needed.
As such, the region will be scheduling a new traffic count in 2013 in the area to determine if such a sign is needed.
Mayor Dennis Lever said it appeared traffic does not yet warrant signal lights at the intersection – but it is getting pretty close.
Councillor Wayne Stokley said he was encouraged the region was going to review the intersection again this year. He wondered if suggestions discussed at previous council sessions would have an impact.
One of the suggestions was to install “No Parking” signs in the area close to the road.
Council had not heard back from Wellington County on that idea but intends to follow up on it.
