Council votes to develop traffic calming policy

LEAMINGTON — Leamington’s Manager of Engineering Service, Allan Botham, brought a report to council at the last meeting, with regard to traffic calming issues and complaints from residents.

At issue are the chicane style roadway at the south end of Danforth, the bump-outs on Mill Street West, Coronation and Talbot Street West, and the traffic islands on Erie Street South.

Botham and his department, at the request of council, commissioned a peer review from WSP Traffic Engineering, where WSP conducted investigations into the above traffic calming measures.

The peer review supported the traffic calming measures taken in all of the areas affected.

Councillor John Hammond spoke about how the ideas look good as drawing and then don’t necessarily pan out when the project is finished.

Hammond suggested using cones and other upright equipment to emulate the changes before they are made, and then ask the fire trucks to make those turns.

“That would be an excellent indicator,” he said.

Councillor Tim Wilkinson, who fielded many complaints from residents with regard to Danforth in particular, was hoping the report would offer some ideas as to cost to ‘fix’ some of the issues.

“I put a lot of stock into the opinions of the residents,” he said. “So I was hoping I could give them some numbers as to what the cost would be to ease some of the measures.”

Councillor Paul Tiessen spoke about the bumpout in front of the Arts Centre, citing black tire marks on the curbs, and Deputy Mayor Larry Verbeke also expressed concern about the bump-out at that location, saying that trucks turning east off of Fox Street, cannot make the turn.

“And if you are fixing that one, take a look at Mill Street’s southwest corner too,” said Verbeke.

After much discussion, a motion was brought forward to adopt a traffic calming policy for the municipality and was unanimously carried.