Transportation Committee

WHEREAS, although the response to the majority of the changes to Winter Operations recommended in the staff report has been positive, Members of Council have heard overwhelmingly from the public that they prefer that the threshold for residential snow clearing remain at 7 centimetres; and WHEREAS, while Committee understands that not proceeding with the staff recommended change from 7 centimetres to 10 centimetres would mean foregoing $500,000 in net savings, the adoption of the rest of the report recommendations will allow Council to respond to the public’s desire to keep the current threshold while still creating meaningful budget efficiencies; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Recommendation c), including subsections i. and ii., be deleted, with the result that the maintenance quality standard for class 5 roads (residential roadways and lanes) will be 7 centimetres.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Transportation Committee approve the addition of this item for consideration by the committee at today’s meeting, pursuant to subsection 89(3) of the Procedure By-law (being by-law no. 2014-441), to allow for sufficient time to install new speed signage on Bearbrook Road in Blackburn Hamlet in advance of the 2016-17 academic school year.

WHEREAS the high rates of speed on Bearbrook Road in Blackburn Hamlet have become increasingly dangerous to local residents, especially young children and students who live on Bearbrook Road in the presently designated 50KM/H zone; and WHEREAS the Bearbrook Road corridor is home to two schools, Good Shepherd Catholic Elementary School and École secondaire publique Louis-Riel, while an additional three schools, Emily Carr Middle School, Glen Ogilvie Public School and École Élémentaire Sainte-Marie are in the immediate vicinity; and WHEREAS the ward Councillor held a special community meeting on Wednesday, June 29, 2016 at the Blackburn Community Hall to discuss and seek feedback on the community’s proposal to lower the speed on Bearbrook Road; and WHEREAS the residents of Bearbrook Road have created and circulated a petition calling for the reduction of speed on Bearbrook Road from 50 km/h to 40 km/h from Innes Road in the south to civic address 1651 Bearbrook Road in the North; and WHEREAS staff has advised that the cost to install new speed signs on Bearbrook Road is approximately $2800, and the cost to change the posted speed limit on existing flex posts is approximately $300; THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Transportation Committee recommend City Council approve that the maximum speed limit on Bearbrook Road in Blackburn Hamlet be reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h from Innes Road in the South to civic address 1651 Bearbrook Road in the North and that all speed limit signage be