Markham
December 04, 2008 10:18 PM
Keely Grasser
Several minor fixes are in the works for an unpopular Unionville traffic calming system, but major modifications to it will be decided on in the new year.
Ward 3 Councillor Joseph Virgilio said removing lane markers at the intersections of Carlton Road and Village Parkway, and Main Street and Carlton Road, as well as some modifications to a curve at Carlton Road and McKay Crescent, will solve some problems.
But he added “the more difficult issue now is what we decide with the rest of it”.
The working group was set up earlier this fall after residents voiced strong opposition to new traffic calming measures, consisting of slightly raised medians and lane markers guiding vehicles around them.
Some residents and local ratepayer groups pointed out numerous perceived flaws in the system.
The Unionville Ratepayers Association said a survey of residents in the area of the system found 80 per cent of respondents raised issues with it, including worries about dangers for drivers, cyclists and residents, confusion for motorists and parking and snow removal issues.
Council set up a working group, consisting of Mr. Virgilio, town staff and residents, to review the calming system.
The group was due to report back to the public on their recommendations in November.
However, this month the group has agreed to pursue minor remedies for identified trouble areas and to pursue a decision on an overall modification until the new year.
Mr. Virgilio said he’s not going to rush the solutions.
“I would like to have had a quick resolution to this but it’s not an easy fix,” he said.
The group has come up with three proposed options.
One is to remove all white pavement markings and modify required medians at an estimated cost of $85,000. The second is to elongate some of the medians and to remove some pavement markings, with a estimated price tag of $150,000. The third is to keep the status quo.
At last month’s meeting, the committee was presented with these and four other options, which they chose not to pursue, including elongating all roll-over medians and pavement markings for $1 million, narrowing and lowering the medians for $140,000, removing the medians and markers and adding bike lanes for $250,000 and getting enhanced police presence, for an unknown cost.
The current modifications recommended by the group are minor “tweaks,” Mr. Virgillio said, which he understands can be completed without going to council. He added the working group is also looking at installing a stop sign at the easterly part of McKay Crescent.
The major modifications will be discussed again at a January meeting, he said.
Mr. Virgilio said he wants to come up with some sort of a consensus before reporting back to the public and council.
The councillor added the money aspect of the project “really bothers” him and that asking council for money to fix the system is not going be pleasant.
He said he has “learned a lot” and is “not going to be as quick to approve traffic calming” in the future.