County of Brant Council supported a staff recommendation to install several proposed stop signs and speed regulations during its Administration and Operations meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024.
According to the report submitted by Rick Knap, a traffic technologist with the County of Brant, the changes are coming as a result of various requests for traffic modifications, made through the Brant Safe Streets (BSS) program and other County departments.
The recommendation to council was to amend traffic by-law number 182-05 for the following three areas:
1. Joseph Brant Street at Mulholland Drive
- X1 Stop Sign, Mulholland Drive – for northbound direction as it intersects with Joseph Brant Street.
- X1 Stop Sign, Mulholland Drive – for southbound direction as it intersects with Joseph Brant Street.
According to the report, requests to facilitate an all-way stop at this intersection have been requested by local road users and staff have since completed a thorough review of the area to see if an all way-way stop control is warranted at the intersection.
The non-traditional T intersection has a 90-degree bend in the road which has created visibility concerns for the public, especially for certain motorists turning at the intersection.
With sufficient funds available in the 2024 sign operating budget, staff recommended that the intersection be made into an all-way stop for an estimated cost of $600.
2. William Street at West River Street
- X1 Stop Sign, William Street – for eastbound direction as it intersects with West River Street.
“Upon routine review of this four-legged intersection, staff found that only one stop sign was installed for westbound motorists on William Street, while the eastbound motorists on William Street and the northbound and southbound motorists on West River Street are uncontrolled by a stop indication,” read Knap’s report.
With only one stop sign at the intersection for westbound motorists, County staff went ahead and installed another for eastbound drivers in order to eliminate potential dangers.
3. White Swan Road
- Speed reduction on White Swan Road, from 80km/hr to a 50 km/hr speed limit from Colborne Street East to approximately 250 metres south of Colborne Street East
- That the remainder of White Swan Road from approximately 250 metres south of Colborne Street East, to the intersection of Lanford Church Road at McBay Road and Baptist Church Road remains an 80 km/hr speed limit.
Staff recently assessed and completed a review of the White Swan Road and Colborne Street East intersection area to determine if any improvements were needed and based on the review, staff initiated the installation of a larger stop sign and large stop ahead sign, as well as added reflectors at the stop control.
“Also, our review of the existing curve approximately 75 metres south of Colborne Street East indicates that a 50 km/hr speed limit is required to negotiate that curve. As such, staff recommends reducing the speed limit as noted in the above recommendation. Sufficient funds are available in the 2024 sign operating budget at an estimated cost of $1200,” read Knap’s report.
During the discussion period, Councillor John Bell brought up concerns in regards to item two, William Street at West River Street.
“West River Street is getting torn up at the moment but I get about an email a week from residents complaining about that junction, and 90 per cent of the people are writing and asking if we can make that a four way stop because that will slow people down on what is becoming a bit of a rat run in town,” said Bell. “When we tear up Grand River Street [for the Downtown Dig project], there’ll be more traffic going that way and I think we need to be thoughtful about how we control traffic. …We’ve made the promise to our residents that we will put extra controls in, and putting up north and south stop signs as well could be one of the extra controls.”
After councillors voted to unanimously approve items one and three, Bell then moved an amendment that would see the William Street and West River Street intersection become a permanent all-way stop.
Councillor Steve Howes then asked for Greg Demers, the County’s Director of Roads, if he thought making the intersection an all-way stop would be too many stop signs for the area.
“I’m very respectful of the fact that it will be and has been a rat run, but that means there’ll be multiple stop signs on West River Street from its south most point down by Lions Park, all the way up to the old Penman’s building and I’m just wondering Greg’s opinion, from his expertise, on that many stop signs in that space,” he asked.
Demers said that while staff could carry out whatever council wished, they had reviewed the intersection many times and found that an all-way stop wasn’t warranted as far as traffic calming measures go.
“The warrants aren’t there because you’re looking at intersecting traffic flows. Stop signs do not work as traffic calming. We’ll put in a stop sign there, and then the same residents are going to call us and tell us that people aren’t stopping at the stop sign because there’s not enough traffic queuing on those side roads to indicate for people to stop,” said Demers. “Busy intersections require four way stops, and the indicator to stop is because as you approach it, you see cars there. When you start seeing intersections that you’re typically using every day and you don’t see a lot of traffic there, people don’t stop.”
He added that if the desired effect is traffic calming, they could look at implementing various traffic calming measures such as speed humps or raised intersections.
Councillor Robert Chambers said while he didn’t disagree that an all-way stop would be a good idea, the County has invested a lot of money in BSS to scientifically assess intersections in the county.
“So I’m not going to support the resolution, but I am going to support the BSS recommendation,” said Chambers. “I have been asked many, many times for four way stops in the village of Scotland, Burford, and everywhere else for that matter, and I’ve always relied on the experts to tell me whether they’re warranted or not and in this case, we’ve just heard that a four way stop is not warranted.”
Bell then noted that while it may not be warranted right now, the moment that traffic starts being diverted off Grand River Street, traveling volumes will be changed considerably.
“Recognizing exactly what Councillor Chambers says, I’d appreciate it if we could run the calculations on the basis that traffic that normally goes through Grand River Street, is going to go through West River Street, and see whether it’s still warranted or not,” said Bell. “Even beyond that, I think we’ve made a commitment to the residents of West River Street that we will control the traffic during that period [the Downtown Dig]. I think [eventually] what will happen is that people will actually become quite comfortable with that bypass, and it will become not just a bypass, but it becomes the road to take.”
Bell said that when motorists come down West River Street now from the railway line, they’re traveling down a hill and speeding up.
“I accept that it may not be technically warranted, but common sense should prevail in this case, and I will keep my motion on the floor,” said Bell.
The vote to make the William Street at West River Street intersection a four-way stop was then carried on a vote of 6 to 5. The final vote for approval of all items will come to Council during its next County Council meeting later this month.
Kimberly De Jong’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative.The funding allows her to report rural and agricultural stories from Blandford-Blenheim and Brant County. Reach her at kimberly.dejong@brantbeacon.ca.
