Erin councillor Matt Sammut continues to push for additional traffic safety measures in the area of Brisbane Public School.
On June 23, Wellington County council approved a bylaw, at the recommendation of the roads committee, prohibiting vehicles from stopping on the shoulder of Wellington Road 124 opposite the school.
The move was a response to concerns about pedestrian safety near the school, where many parents drive their children and park on the county road due to lack of on-site parking.
In correspondence directed to county engineer Gord Ough and operations manager Paul Johnson, Sammut stated, “This will not make the situation any safer for the Brisbane school parent community and their children.”
Sammut said many events after school hours go on throughout the year and often there are more than 40 or 50 cars that have to park on Wellington Road 124.
“Having parents, many times with little children or infants, walk a quarter mile along the north side of Highway 124 with traffic flying by them at an average of over 70 to 80km/h does not make the situation safer,” Sammut wrote.
“Many could argue, it makes it more dangerous and an extreme risk to these families.”
While Sammut agreed the Upper Grand District School Board will have to be involved in creating a long-term solution to the traffic issues, “that does not mean that the County of Wellington should not do all they can to prevent a tragic accident prior to the board’s decision.”
Sammut offered a number of suggestions, including designating the area a school zone and installing a flashing light and implementing a reduced speed limit during school drop of and pick up hours.
“It is noted that the author of most of the attached correspondence continues to press for action from the County of Wellington,” stated Ough in written report that was received for information by the roads committee at the Nov. 10 meeting and adopted by county council on Nov. 26.
