Woolwich to do a review of similar zones, look to step up collection of traffic and speed data
Concerned about safety, Woolwich will implement school zones in front of two rural schools on Three Bridges Road. The move will see the speed limit drop to 60 km/h from 80 km/h for a few hundred metres in front of each building.
The new school zones would apply to Three Bridges Public School and the Clearview parochial school, councillors decided when they met August 27.
A speed limit of 60 km/h will apply on Three Bridges Road, from Hawkesville Road to 540 metres north of that intersection, in the vicinity of Three Bridges Public School. Likewise, the limit will drop on Three Bridges Road from 950 metres south of Listowel Road to 1,300 metres south of Listowel Road, in the vicinity of Clear View School.
The process started when Three Bridges PS contacted the township in July 2012 with concerns about speeding vehicles and complaints from motorists about school buses loading and unloading kids in front of the school, disrupting traffic flow. Woolwich first suggested the school board build a proper loading zone, committing to carrying out a traffic study to determine the extent of the problem.
Township uses a contractor in the spring to perform several traffic/speed counts. Three Bridges Road was counted between June 18 and 20. The study found the average daily traffic count for both northbound and southbound lanes was 2,106, with 85 per cent of drivers travelling at 70 km/h at the monitoring spot in front of Three Bridges PS. The traffic closer to Listowel Road saw counts of 1,953 per day, but a higher speed at 96 km/h.
The review found that the areas in front of both schools were suitable for designation as school zones, with lower speed limits, director of engineering and planning Dan Kennaley told councillors.
Along with a drop to 60 km/h, the staff report adopted by council also recommends new, larger signs be installed, along with appropriate line markings on the pavement.
While councillors suggested lowering the speed limit still further, Kennaley noted that a larger gap between the regular 80 km/h limit and the school zone could create more problems because of the speed differential. Both the Transportation Association of Canada (TAC) and Ontario Traffic Manual (OTM), which among other things establish guidelines for school and playground areas, caution about a larger speed differential.
Kennaley explained that, should the township set a speed limit lower than the 60 km/h suggested in the guidelines, it could be liable in the event of a collision, say one where a faster-moving vehicle struck the rear of a slower car in front of it.
“Reduced speed limits create a wide range of speeds on roadways, which could lead to tailgating, motorists passing slower vehicles, increased potential of collisions and increased pedestrian uncertainty of when it is or it is not safe to cross the roadway,” states the report discussed Tuesday night.
“Still, there are a number of reasons there to reduce the speed limit,” said Kennaley.
Coun. Mark Bauman, who would favour a 50 km/h limit if not for the liability issues, said the key ingredient in the changes approved this week will be a police presence on Three Bridges Road to make drivers aware of the reduced limits.
“My concern would be, are we going to get police enforcement? Police enforcement is crucial to making this work,” he said, noting drivers who use the road as a shortcut will have to be trained to slow down by speed enforcement and ticketing.
“It’s just a matter of time before the message gets out.”
Kennaley said the Waterloo Regional Police Service has always been cooperative with the township’s requests for speed enforcement in particular trouble spots.
Woolwich plans to review speed and traffic issues in school zones as part of a comprehensive policy to be adopted at a later date.
In a related matter, council discussed the concerns raised by residents about speeding on their neighbourhood streets.
Citing the worries of those living on Park Avenue in Elmira, Mayor Todd Cowan asked Kennaley about the use of traffic-calming measures.
While expressing sympathy for the concerns, Kennaley said it’s important to get good traffic-monitoring study information before making decisions. Just like the school zones, there are standards – so-called warrants – that help determine if measures such as speed humps, stop signs, traffic signals and the like are needed.
“Sometimes people get the wrong impression about the volume and speed of traffic on their streets,” he said, noting “hard numbers” tell the real story.
If a traffic study shows changes are warranted, then it’s time for the township to review options
Cowan noted that sometimes the residents’ ideas about what can be done don’t match up with what the township is able to do.
“I think managing expectations with the public is a big thing.”
