CENTRE WELLINGTON – A report going before Centre Wellington Council on Monday includes the townships annual speed limit and traffic calming review and recommendations.
In the report, staff provide speed limit review results conducted in 2023.
A total of 28 road segments located in urban and rural settings were reviewed as part of this assessment, and staff are recommending speed limit reductions on 9 of the 28 assessed segments.
According to the report, recommendations to lower speeds from 50 km/hr to 40 km/hr in the urban area include:
- Bridge Street between Clarke Street to Water Street, Elora
- Church Street between Geddes Street to Kertland Street, Elora
- St David Street North between Sideroad 19 to Parkside Drive, Fergus (40km/h before and after school)
Its also recommended to lower speeds from 80 km/hr to 60 km/hr in the rural area including:
- Fifth Line between Wellington Road 19 to Sideroad 25, West Garafraxa
- First Line between Sideroad 10 and Sideroad 15, West Garafraxa
- Sideroad 9 between Urban Boundary to Sixth Line, West Garafraxa
- Second Line between Wellington Road 18 to Wellington Road 19, West Garafraxa
- Fourth Line between Wellington Road 7 and Highway 6, Nichol
- Gerrie Road between Urban Boundary to Sideroad 5, Nichol
“To improve safety in confirmed speeding areas, a suite of speed reduction measures were considered. The road segments were evaluated on a case by case basis to determine which speed reduction measures would be most effective given the properties of the road and the nature of the speeding issue,” the report said.
Staff are recommending speed reduction measures including the installation of flexible bollards, new speed limit signs, the deployment of electronic speed signs, enhanced OPP enforcement, and line markings to narrow travel lanes and provide buffers for pedestrians and cyclists.
The speed limit reductions are proposed to be implemented through an amendment to the Township’s Consolidated Speed Bylaw, which will be presented to council later this year.
Meanwhile, staff will also provide an update on the 40km/hr Neighbourhood Pilot Project.
Staff say the township will be initiating a 40km/hr neighbourhood pilot program in the York Street East neighborhood between Waterloo Street and Bridge Street in Elora.
The report says township staff have met with representatives from the Ontario Provincial Police to discuss the program and how it can be supported by the OPP.
“In April and May 2024, the Township and OPP will collaborate to release social media notifications about the pilot program, and information signage will be posted in the pilot study area. New 40 km/hr speed signs will be installed in summer 2024, which will formally kick-off the study.”
Township staff will report back to council in late 2024 with findings and future recommendations.
This report will be presented to council at Monday’s 2pm meeting for consideration.
You can read the full report here.
