Traffic lights request rejected, Township won't give up on light fight

Posted Feb 9, 2012 By Sherry Haaima

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EMC News - McNab-Braeside council is not going to give up the fight for a traffic light at Highway 17 and Calabogie Road, says Mayor Mary Campbell, even though the Ministry of Transportation and consultants they hired continue to say it's not warranted.

The issue was one of several discussed with ministry officials at a special council meeting Jan. 31.

Council and township staff were in attendance for the meeting, as well as a number of MTO officials and representatives from CIMA, the company that completed the studies that determined a light was not warranted.

Council and residents have long been requesting a light at the intersection, citing accidents and traffic delays as major issues, particularly as it is the main route to major attractions, including Calabogie Peaks and Calabogie Motorsports Park

"We feel it's dangerous trying to get in out and across 17 at this intersection and our feelings are not going to go away," Campbell said.

"There have been too many accidents," she added, handing out a detailed list of occurrences in the area that went beyond what the consultants' data included.

The information will be included with council's further appeals to the ministry, said Campbell.

CIMA consultant Brian Applebee went over details of the operational performance review of the intersection.

"Basically we look at the whole gamut of traffic safety," said Applebee.

"Overall the results indicate that the intersection is operating well from a traffic operations standpoint and our field review did not note any major deficiencies."

In terms of accidents, there were no collision trend found, he said. Single motor vehicle accidents, mostly rear-turning and movement collisions, were most prevalent.

"These were basically based on driver inattentiveness," said Applebee. "They weren't related to anything specific to the operation of the intersection."

All studies pointed to a light not being warranted, he said, with traffic delays minimal.

"A field review itself of the intersection found no major issues," Applebee added.

One small item CIMA did notice is that the intersection is skewed slightly to 70 degrees - 90 is the usual, said Applebee.

"It's on the outside of ministry guidelines but within them," he said.

Included in the recommendations is consideration of a potential realignment of the intersection.

Coun. Bob Campbell questioned whether a traffic study had ever been completed at the end of a long weekend when the highway seems to be at its worst for congestion.

"That seems to be the problem here. If you need to cross then, you might as well not try it," he said.

Traffic is measured for morning and afternoon peak periods in the summer and not for long weekend traffic, explained Norm Meyers of MTO's traffic department.

FINDINGS QUESTIONED

Mayor Campbell indicated the study didn't jive with what council and residents live with each day.

"We're kind of all surprised that the delays are so low," she said.

"It doesn't fit what most of us have experienced," she added. "I'm trying to nicely say your data is dated and that'll be a point we make to the minister." (The township with support from Greater Madawaska and Horton has asked to meet with the minister at the Good Road convention at month's end.)

With a paramedic station, the Glasgow fire hall, and township building all located just off the highway on Russett Drive, the area is a hub for the municipality, said Campbell.

Meyers said MTO will not put in a traffic light that's not warranted and to do so would be unsafe. "While I respect the warrants as guidelines, I'm not intimidated by them anymore," said Campbell.

SIGNAGE 'INEFFECTIVE'

Also part of the meeting were discussions regarding signage, in particular concerns expressed by a group of business owners in Pine Grove Industrial Park with current signage on the highway and a month-long construction period that will close down Campbell drive, further disrupting business.

The highway signs are not effective, say business owners, who would also liked to have seen on- or off-ramps at their flyover.

Meyers explained the issues were addressed and concerns could have been expressed at public meetings leading up to the approval of plans.

He said the existing signage is already above par. "Generally speaking, the ministry does not install the type of signs you have out there. Anywhere else in the province that's not being done," he said. "It's unique and above and beyond what MTO is doing elsewhere."

With three interchanges, the stretch of highway will be in great shape, he added.

"You're getting a Cadillac service for interchanges," said Meyers. "That's good service in the MTO's opinion."

A letter outlining the group's concerns has been forwarded to the township's public works committee.

CONSTRUCTION UPDATE

MTO representative Angela Stewart spoke about the Highway 17 construction, updating council on the process of the project that will have a major effect on the township.

Phase I work on four-laning the highway from just west of Arnprior to just past Division Street is almost complete.

Phase II, the continuation of four-laning from near Division Street to Campbell Drive, has not yet been approved for funding, said Stewart, though MTO is in the ongoing process of acquiring property.

"One thing I must mention is it is currently not funded," she stressed.

The work falls under the Southern Highways Program and within that, it is a "number one priority for expansion."

With regards to Phase III, from Scheel Drive westerly, Stewart said approval has been requested to start design and the province continues to work on acquiring property to facilitate phases III and IIII.

Sherry.haaima@metroland.com




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