PUSLINCH – Roads in Puslinch are rural roads designed for vehicular traffic and not pedestrians or cyclists, and speed mitigation methods can only be applied to roads with speed limits of 50km/h or less.
Those were two new pieces of information relayed to council on Aug. 16 that may be of significance to residents.
Councillor Sara Bailey did some prodding as the amended draft Roads Management Plan was presented by officials from GM BluePlan Engineering and Paradigm Transportation Solutions Ltd. along with comment from township staff.
“Is there a need to say out loud the function of our roads?” Bailey asked, adding residents often complain about increased traffic and the fact they can’t walk on their roads safely anymore.
Public works, parks and facilities director Mike Fowler explained Puslinch’s road network is largely rural and has narrow shoulders that are not designed for pedestrians or cyclists.
“There’s a commuter network and we’re caught in the middle of it,” he added.
“Two or three times a week the 401 is shut down and emergency detours run through our road infrastructure.”
Council has heard from many community groups in recent years complaining of their once-quiet rural roads now being travelled by speeding cars and trucks.
“I think it needs to be said out loud what the reality is,” Bailey said, adding she thinks those statement should be moved higher in the document.
Councillor Jessica Goyda worried about a section in the document about converting gravel roads to asphalt.
The report spelled out the criteria for when the township would make such a conversion and suggested that if a request is made but the road does not meet the township’s criteria, homeowners on the road could fund the project themselves.
The township would oversee the project but the homeowners would foot the bill.
Goyda saw potential for neighbourhood strife given the wording in the document.
“A sufficient Petition against the Project requires signature in agreement from at least two-thirds of the property owners representing at least 50% of the value of lots liable to be assessed under the project,” is the policy suggested in the report.
“I worry about the implications of this,” Goyda said. “It could create conflict and divide a neighbourhood” if all of the homeowners are not on board.
Goyda suggested putting this part of the plan on “pause.”
“If the cost is $1 million and there are 10 homeowners, that would cost each homeowner $100,000. I feel uncomfortable about it,” she said.
Clerk and interim CAO Courtenay Hoytfox said having criteria to follow “is extremely helpful” when explaining to residents why their road is or is not on the list.
Hoytfox suggested leaving the criteria in the plan, converting the six roads identified in the report, and amending the plan afterward if necessary.
The roads identified for paving include:
- Carter Road, from Arkell Road (Wellington Road 37) to Cooks Mill Road;
- Cooks Mill Road, from Carter Road to the bridge;
- Concession 7, from Concession 1 to Gore Road;
- Gilmour Road, from Victoria Road South to new subdivision;
- Pioneer Trail, from Laird Road West to Niska Road; and
- Sideroad 10 South, between Concessions 1 and 2.
The report suggests budgeting $2.7 million annually for road rehabilitation and that the road condition assessment be included in the 10-year road capital forecast.
Some councillors worried they’d be locking themselves into a big number come budget time.
“This is something to work towards,” said councillor John Sepulis, “something to aspire to.”
The report assessed all the roads in Puslinch in terms of needing a capital investment now, in one to five years, or in six to 10 years.
Paved roads that need resurfacing now include:
- Gore Road from Sideroad 20 South to Valens Road; estimated cost $983,000;
- Mason Road from Concession 7 to the end, $84,000;
- Puslinch-Flamborough Townline from Leslie Road West to the township border, $114,000;
- Leslie Road West from the curve at Highway 401 to Puslinch-Flamborough Townline; $384,000;
- Concession 2A between Concessions 2 and 7, $117,000; and
- Watson Road South from Hume Road to Maltby Road East; estimated costs $1,009,000.
This totals $2,691,000.
Council also heard that speed mitigation measures like speed bumps can only be used on roads with speed limits of 50km/h or less. Hitting speed bumps a higher speeds can cause vehicles to lose control.
But there are mitigation methods that can be used on other roads.
The report recommends reviewing speed limits on all township roads to provide a baseline if council contemplates changing speed limits in the future.
Council received the report, councillors’ amendments will be added and the final draft document will return to council for approval in September.
Mayor James Seeley was absent from the meeting. Councillor John Sepulis chaired the meeting in his place.
