County to spend $8M in speed camera revenue over two years

GUELPH – Over the next two years, Wellington County officials plan to spend a total of $11.21 million on road safety, speed management and other road projects.

Approximately $10.5 million will be covered by the reserves, with the remainder coming from development charges ($500,000) and the province’s Road Safety Initiatives Fund ($210,000).

“Of the $10.5 million, $8 million is currently projected from the automatic speed enforcement (ASE) [program],” treasurer Ken DeHart told the Advertiser. 

“About half and half in each year.”

During a Jan. 13 roads committee meeting, roads manager Don Kudo presented a summary of road safety and speed management work proposed in 2026 and 2027.

The county plans to spend $975,000 in 2026 and $350,000 in 2027 on projects near the seven trial ASE locations that were part of a one-year pilot program.

The work includes:

• three traffic calming curbs (Drayton, Fergus and Rockwood);
• 11 speed radar signs (Palmerston, Mount Forest, Fergus, Rockwood, Aberfoyle and Hillsburgh);
• 32 centre line bollards (all seven locations);
• an upgraded pedestrian crossover in Palmerston; and
• new pedestrian crossover and upgrading a school crossing in Hillsburgh.

“[This] is the first year we are using the ASE funds for road safety initiatives,” Kudo told the Advertiser. 

Following a preliminary review, the county estimates it will spend $325,000 in 2026 and $150,000 in 2027 on similar projects in 10 other community safety zones on county roads.

“I’m focused mostly on Belsyde (Avenue East) in Fergus,” councillor Diane Ballantyne told the committee.

“I can see that there’s some significant suggestions going on there, which is great because it’s a really long community safety zone with a lot of traffic.”

The Fergus location is slated to receive two speed radar signs, seven centre line bollards and traffic calming curbs. 

“I’d like to get a little bit more specific on when this is going to happen,” Ballantyne said. “How quick are we going to be able to get our residents seeing that we’re taking concrete action to improve safety?”

“I would say spring,” Kudo replied. 

He noted the trial ASE locations will be the focus,  but “there’s a lot of work involved ... it is a matter of scheduling.” 

Other proposed plans include:

• $200,000 for speed management annually;
• $350,000 in guide rail system upgrades and replacements in both years;
• upgrades to pedestrian crossings throughout the county ($100,000 in 2026 and $300,000 in 2027); and
• installing streetlights at rural intersections ($350,000 in 2026 and $350,000 in 2027). 

Five proposed road projects funded by ASE revenue were also noted in the report, ranging from $200,000 to $4.16 million.

“The projects were selected based on their collision data, design status and construction readiness, warrants and priority status,” the report states. 

One of the most expensive projects is a proposed roundabout at the intersection of Wellington Roads 7 and 12 in Mapleton. The intersection was labeled a high priority by county staff due to 13 collisions over three years. 

The budget estimate is $130,000 in 2026 and $4.03 million in 2027.

The other big-ticket project is intersection improvements at Wellington Road 21 and 8th Line in Centre Wellington, at a cost of $1.5 million in 2026.

The work includes new turning lanes, pavement corrections to curves, guide rail improvements and overlay paving of Wellington Road 21 between Wellington Road 7 and the Waterloo boundary. 

Collision data for the road segment shows 72 collisions over the past five years. 

Other projects include:

• intersection improvements at Wellington Road 30 and Guelph Road 3 in Guelph/Eramosa ($750,000 in 2026);
• intersection improvements at Wellington Roads 50 and 24 in Erin ($600,000 in 2027); and
• a corridor study at Wellington Road 46 in Puslinch ($200,000 in 2026). 

The report was received for information and will be reviewed by county council on Jan. 29.