Residents, council request speed humps for King City and Nobleton

December 3, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Angela Gismondi

They may not be warranted but King councillors want to see permanent speed humps installed on streets in King City and Nobleton.
The matter came forward at the committee of the whole meeting Monday. Temporary speed humps were recently removed on Burton Grove, Warren Avenue and Patricia Drive in King City and Hill Farm Road in Nobleton to allow for snow removal over the winter months. Now, Township staff has recommended that permanent speed humps not be installed on those roads as the warrants have not been met in accordance with the Township’s traffic calming policy.
Petitions were submitted by residents in support of traffic calming in those areas in the two villages. The petition fulfilled the first warrant in the process. The second warrant is safety requirements and the third is technical requirements.
Residents living on Burton Grove came out to the meeting to urge council to reinstall the only traffic calming measure that slowed down traffic on their busy street. The street is located near the GO station. As a result, a large amount of commuters use the road as a short cut while travelling at high speeds and ignoring stop signs.
Glen Ampleford thanked council for installing the stop signs and the temporary speed humps on Burton Grove.
“Both of those achieved positive outcomes in my view,” he said. “I can’t for the life of me understand why council would even entertain the idea of not putting in permanent speed humps.”
With many young families and small children living on the street, not installing speed humps could have negative consequences, he explained. He added his dog was killed by a car travelling at an excessive speed on the road.
“This is dangerous,” he said. “You took away the one thing that kept people from going fast. It’s the only way to keep people from excessively speeding. It’s the one thing that will keep our kids safe on Burton Grove.”
Ampleford stressed that this is a safety issue and that the staff report and studies are irrelevant.
“This is a very serious issue – life or death,” he said. “Somebody’s going to get killed.”
Burton Grove resident Marco Parmiggiano agreed.
“It seems to me that the data in this report is flawed,” he said, explaining that the volume and speed studies were conducted only a few days after the speed humps were removed.
“That’s because people think there are still speed humps there. Do it in six months and you’ll get different results.”
He also couldn’t understand why it was important that the street have a sidewalk. According to the staff report, that was one of the technical requirements that was not met. Rob Flindall, director of engineering and public works explained that sidewalks would prevent pedestrians from having to walk on the road, which would provide an increased level of safety.
Local resident Carmela Saliva said she was terrified at the thought that the speed humps could be removed permanently.
“The speed humps physically force people to slow down,” she said, adding that before the speed humps her and her two year old daughter would have to wait minutes before getting a chance to cross the street. “They give us the confidence and the opportunity to safely cross the street.”
Councillor Cleve Mortelliti said he was annoyed by the report.
“I have been struggling with this report all weekend,” said Mortelliti. “I feel like we’re going around and around in circles here.”
He did not agree with staff’s position that the speed humps are not warranted on the road.
“The recommendation, I think, is ludicrous,” he said. “The report I was expecting was where, how many and how much but once again we get a report that says that staff doesn’t like speed humps. We already know what staff’s position is on speed humps. If 70 per cent of the residents want them it’s the councils responsibility to listen to the public and try to do our best to accommodate them.””
Mayor Steve Pellegrini agreed.
“I believe speed humps are the only way to slow traffic down for our community,” said Pellegrini, adding some people go right through stop signs. “With a speed hump you have to slow down, no if ands or buts about it. I’m 100 per cent in favour of putting speed humps on Burton Grove”
He also pointed out that by installing speed humps, some of the traffic might be diverted to other local roads. Those roads might require speed humps as well.
Pellegrini said traffic calming was identified as a top priority for councillors in the 2014 budget. He asked that the matter be referred back to staff. He also said he wants a speed hump program implemented by March.
There was nobody from Nobleton at the meeting but Councillor Peter Grandilli said he has spoken with the residents.
“I was against speed humps for anywhere in King Township but I changed my mind in the last few years as long as the majority of people on that street want speed humps, we should accommodate them,” he said, adding he did not want to wait until the development was complete to install the humps on Hill Farm Road.
“I think they should be installed at the same time as Burton Grove.”
Speed humps are estimated to cost about $2,000 each. Council decided to await a report from staff before deciding how many speed humps there should be and where they should go.
A motion was made to support the installation of permanent speed humps on Hill Farm Road in Nobleton and Burton Grove, Patricia Drive and Warren Road in King City and that staff be directed to report back no later than February 2014 with an installation plan/report for the speed humps.
A motion was also made to consider a “No Through Traffic” bylaw implemented for the intersection of Keele Street and Burton Grove during the hours of 4 to 6 p.m., Monday to Friday. The bylaw will also be brought before council at the February meeting. The motions carried.