A Pelham councillor will be calling on staff to authorize the installation of a three-way stop and a crosswalk at an intersection on Port Robinson Road in a bid to slow down traffic on the busy street.
The motion, being brought forward July 10 by Ward 2 Councillor Brian Eckhardt, calls for a three-way stop and crosswalk to be installed at the intersection of Port Robinson and Klager Avenue as soon as possible.
“By as soon as possible, I mean immediately,” Eckhardt said. “We’ve had enough studies.”
The councillor decided to bring the motion forward in the wake of discussions he and a fellow councillor – Ward 3’s Shellee Niznik – have had with residents living in the area.
The stretch of road in question is Port Robinson between Station Street and Rice Road. Drivers, the residents have said, routinely drive faster than the posted 50 km/h speed limit.
“The residents in that area came to us with their complaints nearly two years ago,” Eckhardt said. “It’s time council takes the next step and do the right thing for the residents.”
The intersection was one of two – the other was at Port Robinson and Lametti Drive – that were looked at as a part of a 2023 traffic study. It was determined at that time that traffic volumes did not warrant stops being installed.
Currently, there is only a stop for motorists turning onto Port Robinson from Klager. Other than at Station Street and Rice Road, there are no marked pedestrian crossings on this stretch of Port Robinson.
Craig Edwards, speaking on behalf of residents in the area, appreciated the fact that Eckhardt is calling for something to be done. Edwards said installing a crosswalk would be “a step forward” but more is needed.
“It’s just one step in what we hope is a series of steps,” he said.
Residents would also like to see speed bumps or humps – even temporary ones that can be removed in the winter – installed to slow traffic as well, Edwards said.
“The intersection is roughly half-way between Station (Street) and Rice Road,” he said. “Put speed bumps on either side just to see what happens there.”
Residents also want markings for the stop at Station and Port Robinson repainted now, rather than waiting until the fall when the work is scheduled to be completed by a company contracted by the Town for such work.
Jason Marr, the Town’s Director of Public Works, reiterated that according to the 2023 traffic study, traffic volumes “based on evidence and data we have” did not warrant additional signage.
But he said that didn’t rule other measures being taken after public works staff met with residents, such as a “midblock” pedestrian crossing.
Marr, however, said he didn’t want to comment on the matter more fully until it was back before council.
“We’ll be dealing with it at that time,” he said.
Previously, Marr said speeds in the area have dropped after bollards and bike lanes were installed. Speeds of drivers in the 85th percentile, or 85 per cent of drivers using the road, dropped from 65 km/h to 55. However, bollards placed along the sides of Port Robinson were run over by drivers and have not been replaced.
But as far as Eckhardt is concerned, this isn’t good enough.
“We want that 10 to 15 per cent who think it’s okay to run over the bollards and speed down the street.”
He also expects his motion to be passed and action to be taken.
“If council passes a motion directing (staff) to do something, they do it,” he said.
