Guelph-Eramosa councillors are glad the Ministry of Transportation (MTO) has finally agreed to address safety concerns at a local intersection, but they say the ministry is not doing enough.
“A flashing light isn’t going to solve anything,” Mayor Chris White said of the MTO’s decision to install the amber and red lights at the intersection of Highway 7 and Jones Baseline, southwest of Rockwood.
The ministry agreed to the move after receiving a letter last month from Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Ted Arnott, who outlined the need for improvements at the intersection after two recent accidents there within a week.
“Your ministry must investigate these incidents in collaboration with the [OPP],” Arnott wrote to Minister Kathleen Wynne, adding the MTO should install traffic lights as soon as possible.
“It also my understanding that the ministry may have identified the need for signals at Highway 7 and Jones Baseline some time ago.”
The township has argued for some time for traffic signals at the intersection, where several car accidents have occurred over the past several years, including at least one fatal crash.
After receiving Arnott’s letter, the ministry agreed to do something, but stopped short of installing traffic signals.
“[They] have decided to install a flashing traffic light at this intersection and will be reviewing further the need for upgrading the flashing light at this intersection to a full set of traffic signals,” Chief Administrative Officer Janice Sheppard told council on March 21.
Councillor Doug Breen said, “Anything short of a traffic light” is not going to address the problems at the intersection, where excessive speed and high traffic volumes make even right turns difficult.
Councillor Corey Woods added, “It pisses me off that it takes a couple of people getting killed [for the MTO to take action].” He noted the need for full traffic signals was identified at least as long ago as 2007.
White suggested if something is not changed soon, there could be more bad accidents there. He cited a couple of past close calls and said it is entirely possible that “a bus load of kids” could get rear-ended by a transport truck.
“A flashing light is better than zip – but not much,” White said, adding full traffic signals are needed, along with right hand turn lanes.
Breen said past MTO arguments that the roads need to be fixed to install traffic signals are “ludicrous.” White agreed and said the township wants to work with the ministry to ensure the concerns of residents are addressed.
“This is very close to home for them,” he added.
Council voted unanimously to write the MTO about its concerns and to encourage the ministry to “install a full set of traffic signals at this intersection.” Councillors agreed to give the MTO six weeks to respond.
