New stop signs will be posted on Kingscross Drive

October 22, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Angela Gismondi
Council approved the installation of two new stop signs on Kingscross Drive in King City at a council meeting Monday.
The stop signs will be located on Kingscross Drive, Watch Hill Road and Champlain Crescent and at Kingscross Drive and Chelsea Lane and will be installed in order to address safety concerns in the area.
Staff received a number of requests for stop signs to be installed from concerned residents living on the street. According to the report, staff does not normally recommend the installation of stop signs where traffic warrants are not met, but a number of petitions for traffic calming measures have been submitted and the Township is addressing those concerns. Although ongoing traffic analysis has not indicated a need for stop signs at these intersections, residents have continued to request the installation. Staff met with the representatives of the community to discuss various traffic calming and speed reduction strategies and the residents asked that the additional stop signs be posted along Kingscross Drive in an effort to slow vehicles.
Councillor Debbie Schaefer wanted to make sure the stop signs are a temporary measure and that the Township will continue to seek solutions to the problem.
“I just wanted to confirm that this is an immediate step we are taking in response to the petition,” said Scahefer. “A more strategic solution is needed for the long term.”
Rob Flindall, director of engineering and public works, explained stop signs are not supposed to be used for speed control.
“They are intended to provide access control into intersections to regulate and control conflicts,” explained Flindall, adding staff recommended that they be installed on a trial basis and evaluated on an annual basis. “This is an interim measure.”
He added a traffic analysis will be conducted over the next year and staff plans to report back to council in the spring.
The posting of the new stop signs will be funded through the 2013 operating budget. The signs are expected to be installed in the next few weeks.