Grey Highlands council has taken the first steps towards the implementation of a Pedestrian Safety Study for the municipality.
At a committee of the whole meeting on May 8, council adopted a number of recommendations that flowed out of the Pedestrian Safety Study, which had been initially received and referred to committee of the whole by council in December.
The massive 170-page report prepared by RJ Burnside and Associates generated a number of courses of action for the municipality to consider as it seeks to improve safety on local roads.
During a four-hour discussion on the matter, council approved a number of recommendations brought forward by staff in a report.
“This is work we need to complete. We’ve been doing things on a piecemeal basis,” said Coun. Nadia Dubyk.
When the work is completed should it be approved by council during the next budget cycle, Grey Highlands will have a comprehensive set of official policies in place to guide decisions on road improvements and safety upgrades.
The recommendations focused on a "Vision Zero" approach, which is a vision to eliminate all traffic fatalities and serious injuries, and also a "complete street" approach, which refers to streets that are safe for all users, not only motorists. Both of these ideas will be included in Official Plan and design standards updates.
Council supported consulting services added to the 2025 budget discussion for both a traffic calming policy and a speed limit policy.
Staff were tasked with a review of the current levels of service and a report back to council with recommendations to update those levels of service.
Council also asked staff to develop a Community Safety Zone policy and to implement School Safety Zones for all schools within the municipality that are on municipal roads. That would include standard speed limits in the safety zones.
During a six-week safety study, council asked staff to install speed radar signs around the municipality and report back on the cost for the radar signs.
Council would also like to see improved sidewalks with fewer gaps in the sidewalk network, a staff report is pending.
Other recommendations in the report included a consultant in the 2025 budget discussions to complete a study and policy for street lights and a review of crosswalks.
Council opted not to move forward on a crossing guard at Grey Road 12 crosswalk until the Flesherton crossing guard study is complete.
Council rejected one recommendation for the preparation of an active transportation and master trails plan. Members of council felt that plan could follow after the other initiatives already approved were complete.
The committee of the whole decisions are recommendations that will go to council at its next meeting on May 15 for final ratification.
Members of council were aware of the scope of work the municipality is facing on the issue.
“I can embrace the concepts, but the first thing that came to mind was: how do we ever pay for all of this?” said Coun. Tom Allwood. “Some things in this report we can move very quickly on, but when you look at it in its entirety, it’s overwhelming.”
