Ashley Mutch indicated that Riveredge Drive is a dangerous street due to it being narrow, winding, hilly, contains blind spots and vehicles speed along it. Council and staff were requested numerous times since September 2019 to implement safety measures. Majority of residents on Riveredge Drive have now signed a form requesting some type of traffic calming measures to be implemented such as speed bumps, reduced speed limit, traffic cameras, they do not feel safe. Any measures would be appreciated. Suggested the street possibly be considered a community safety zone, rumble strips, speed cameras.
Michael Vos indicated the Town has conducted traffic speed and volume studies to validate resident's concerns over the past two years, deployed a trailer providing instant feedback radar and conducting speed and volume studies at the same time; half of one percent of drivers drove over 60 km/h during the June speed study.
- was brought forward in the spring traffic report to install oversized 40 km/hr signage as well as durable markings, 4ft x 3ft markings on the road; were some excessive speeds recorded but does not yet justify installation of permanent traffic calming fixtures
- can include Riveredge Drive as part of pilot project for speed humps this fall, staff to report back with summary on the project in September
Zaidun Alganabi; Dovedale Drive not expected to be open to the public until the end of 2023 due to construction of homes fronting on Dovedale Drive
Harold Lenters advised that the road is developer-driven rather than Town-driven. Staff can work with the developer to open Dovedale Drive to traffic during construction
Michael Vos;
- installation of regulatory 'local traffic only' signage on Riveredge Drive and Riverglen Drive would require bylaw approval, can be an option
- Durable markings on the road will be in place by the end of August as a visual deterrent and will be studied for results
- Community Safety Zones are typically adjacent to a school or park; staff is determining if Riveredge Drive has been previously signed as a Community Safety Zone
- the number of 'Caution, Children at Play' signs along Riveredge Drive is unknown
Michael Bigioni - liability would stem from negligence rather than making changes to traffic on a roadway that would improve safety
- no definition of 'local traffic only' but it would be a visual deterrent and likely difficult to enforce
- majority of instances of speed humps are on 40 and 50 km/h speed limits and those that have excessive speeders over 60 km/h
Chief Jenkins; fire department is not in favour of speed bumps as it slows down their response time to emergencies
Ashley Mutch; sounds like Riveredge Drive was not intended to have as much traffic as it does, is adjacent to two paths that lead to parks, sightlines are low. Residents are asking for change. Considering all the safety issues along the street, whether or not it meets the requirements, it should be a good contender to be included in safety programs.