In November 2023, Councillor Kavanagh’s office offered to coordinate traffic calming for Crystal Beach Lakeview. The Transportation, Infrastructure, and Planning Committee (TIP) passed the offer on to Crystal Beach Lakeview (by means of a newsletter article) and received 7 responses.
With those responses and two months of discussion amongst ourselves, we responded to the Councillor’s offer with a list of proposed streets and some comments and suggestions (sent May 6). (Note: After hearing a loud crash one day, we added Holly Acres Road to the proposed list.)
Back and forth with the Councillor’s Office
Over the next few months, Barbara from the Councillor’s office worked with City staff on determining what is feasible. Here is the email we sent to Councillor Kavanagh with the marked-up response we received June 26. (Note: the Bedale parking sign was moved further away from the intersection, and we did receive the diagrams we wanted from the LRT2 people.)
At some point Barbara also sent us a document that explains the traffic-calming techniques available to the City. You can access this document on-line here.
A pause…
In July we received an email from Barbara telling us the following:
“Councillor Kavanagh received an email from staff who did an assessment for speed on Corkstown Road, and I wanted to let you know that it qualified for Neighbourhood Traffic Calming and Temporary Traffic Calming measures.
Staff have placed it on both lists to examine and provide suggestions for improvements to slow motorists (they found the 85th percentile for speed was well above the designated 40km/hr).
I know you had mentioned there is some dislike for the middle of the road posts with regard to people riding bikes and sharing the space with drivers, which I can appreciate. We’re looking forward to seeing what else staff will be recommending for improvements to slow motorist speeds.
I will be sure to let you know when we hear from them on this, but it could take some time, as the Councillor’s own list for traffic calming measures is over 50 at this point, and staff work on multiple wards at a time…”
Opportunity for more thought on traffic calming?
The pause gives a chance for the community to have more discussion about traffic calming in Crystal Beach Lakeview.
It may be that things have changed. Perhaps you think that the increase in on-street parking in our neighbourhood has already lessened or will lessen the need for traffic-calming. As the city becomes denser, on-street parking will continue to grow—particularly if parking minimums (the requirement for developers to provide parking) is removed.
Or, perhaps, you think that the driving around here is bonkers, and that too many people are speeding, phone-addicted idiots—even worse drivers since the pandemic.
With a bit of a pause on this project, and a chance to read about the discussion so far, you have an opportunity to express your thoughts (again). Let us know if you have specific requests or ideas about traffic-calming for Crystal Beach-Lakeview.
Where we need help specifically
Can the community provide more specifics about the problems on Crystal Beach Drive? Is it particular intersections? Speeding concerns? Stop sign adherence?
With respect to Ullswater, can you help us be more specific in terms of where? Between what intersections or at which intersection? What is the concern? Speeding? Failing to stop for stop signs?
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