A recent speed-measurement device showed about 30 per cent of cars coming into Saint Andrews were going about 10 kilometres per hour above the posted speed limit.
The speed trap came after the council and the town received a number of letters and complaints about speeding throughout the community.
“Montague Street and Parr Street didn’t show the same results,” Town Clerk Paul Nopper said, of the other locations the speed trap was placed. “In my humble opinion, I think, part of that is because it’s visible you can see it and you can see it from a distance so people were slowing down.”
Nopper said there have been many requests to try and mitigate the speeding.
“So, far there have been lots of letters that have come in of perceived speeding concerns (and) of asking the town to put in speed bumps, speed measure, something to slow traffic down,” he said.
He said he looked at the transportation master plan, which he said suggested narrowing curbs, and narrowing streets but with the way the town plows streets, those options weren’t feasible.
Nopper suggested a four-stop, which would add an additional stop sign to the intersection, which is currently a three-way. He called it the most cost-effective way to mitigate it.
Adding more stop signs
The town is also considering a crosswalk in front of the arena which is just above the intersection leading into town.
“With the way people come around that three-way stop coming up Reed (Ave), people are picking up speed, so it’s it’s one of those aspects of safety that we could look at to making that a four-way stop,” he said.
The town is also considering several more stop signs through the town.
Coun. Jamie Hirtle said while adding more stop signs might be a good solution, some places in the community create visibility issues when going into intersections.
“There’s a lot of blind corners,” he said during the council meeting. “You kind of have to roll into the intersection to see what’s coming, which isn’t always the safest approach in our communities.”
He suggested lowering the speed limits in general in the community.
“I think that you’re right, people think they see people speeding but they might not be, but I think that comes from the fact that most people, or many people, think 50 kilometres an hour is too fast,” he said.
Traffic light not supported
Mayor Brad Henderson argued the additional stop signs force drivers to slow down with more frequency, preventing them from really getting all the way up to speed.
Coun. Steve Neil also agreed with lowering the speed. However, he pointed out on Montague and Parr, that the report staff prepared showed 95 per cent compliance with the speed limit.
The council said any change to the intersection, though, on Reed and Harriet could create a short-term increase in accidents.
Coun. Lee Heenan suggested a traffic light.
“It does seem overhead traffic lights seems to me to be the issue if they’re coming up Harriet and they’re coming down and they have a green light then (it’s clear through),” Heenan said. “Then the light goes red, and they both stop.”
But the council didn’t appear to favour that, aiming to keep the “small town feel.”
Ultimately, the council reached a consensus on that intersection for a four-way stop, which would eventually be subject to a public hearing.
It is also considering at least nine more traffic calming measures, including stop signs on Montague and Parr streets.
