PUSLINCH – Residents of Hume Road would like to see the speed limit reduced from 60 to 30 km/h and they made their case to Puslinch council on Nov. 3.
Ranjit Singh told council road repairs and resurfacing have been nice for residents in the tiny neighbourhood, but they have also turned the mostly residential road into a “significant connecting link” for people in Guelph, Arkell, Rockwood and even as far away as Acton, as the road runs between Watson Road South and Nassagaweya-Puslinch Townline.
“In the past 10 to 15 years, traffic has increased significantly, and that has caused safety issues,” he said, listing high speeds, truck and construction vehicles, and more traffic volume among the neighbourhood’s concerns.
The road has five blind hills and narrow shoulders, Singh said, and if vehicles park on the shoulder, that forces traffic into the oncoming lane and potentially into oncoming traffic.
He also noted the train crossing has only a stop sign – no gates or lights.
“The stop sign is not adequate at the unregulated train crossing,” he said.
Rich Baggerman said he’s lived on the road for 18 years and while the speed limit is 60 km/h, traffic regularly travels at 70 or 80 km/h.
“School buses stop at the bottom and top of these hills. Kids are at risk,” he said.
The road is just 2.5km long, but there are 48 homes and four lots under construction.
Councillor Matthew Bulmer shared the neighbours’ concerns.
“We are experiencing the same thing on Watson Road. We’re seeing it across the township,” he said.
Public works, parks and facilities director Mike Fowler said the township is preparing a Transportation Master Plan that will include all sorts of data such as traffic speeds, volumes and high-demand routes.
Mayor James Seeley said he’d like to see consistent speeds throughout the township.
“We don’t want it piecemeal,” he said. “Growth has caused this.”
“I’m not opposed to lowering the speed limit but want to be consistent across the township,” councillor Jessica Goyda agreed.
“But I worry any measures taken are only as effective as enforcement.”
CAO Glenn Schwendinger said the township has a good working relationship with the OPP and he’ll ask for increased enforcement along Hume Road.
Seeley suggested Singh and his neighbours contact the Wellington OPP’s police services board and lodge their request for enforcement there, too.
Schwendinger said truck routes are part of the transportation review, as are speed limits. He expects the review to be completed by spring.
“I look forward to the progressive work on this,” Singh said.
