Streets for speed cushion pilot to be shortlisted in months

April 29, 2015 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Five busy Aurora streets will be shortlisted in the coming months before speed cushions are installed in a new pilot project.

Council gave the green light to the project this month which will see the traffic calming measures installed on five particular problem areas for speeders. As The Auroran reported last week, the pilot project was a result of several complaints received by Councillors on a number of local streets, including stretches of Conover Avenue, Laurentide Avenue, Mavrinac Boulevard, Kennedy Street West and Stone Road.

Up to 20 streets, including these, will be under closer scrutiny in the weeks ahead as municipal staff identify particularly problematic areas. Before they make their shortlist for Council approval, however, the streets need to pass a threefold test.

The first warrant is the impact on adjacent streets, particularly whether traffic calming measures – and, in this case, there is only one traffic calming measure under consideration – would significantly impact the streets around them, including diverting traffic into the surrounding areas.

The second requires consultation with the York Regional Police, Emergency Services, local school board and York Region Transit to gauge the impact speed cushions would have on the services they deliver.

The third warrant looks at existing speed limits, monitors traffic volume and speed.

These studies are expected to be carried out through June.

Council approved the pilot project at the Committee Level and reiterated their support at Council this month, but they wanted to ensure residents on the five ultimate “worst offenders” were adequately consulted before asphalt is poured.

“It is important we let residents know,” said Councillor John Abel, who brought forward the initial notice of motion for the pilot project. “We, as Councillors, know a lot of people are concerned with cars moving very quickly in their specific neighbourhoods and they all have a common denominator: long, straight road. It is great we’re moving forward and we’re letting residents know.”

Public information sessions are slated to get underway this September, with an eye for installation by November, but the evaluation of each street should be before Council over the summer for consideration, added Councillor Michael Thompson.

“I think it would be prudent for a report to come back to indicate what came out of the study of those five and then [have] the decision of Council whether to proceed or not.”

The total cost for the pilot project is estimated at between $75,000 – $100,000, or approximately $5,000 per speed cushion installation.