At the Regular Meeting of June 25, 2024, Councillor Korab requested that Waterford Bridge Road be considered for Traffic Calming. Speeding and safety have been major concerns of residents for a number of years, but as the street is categorized as a minor arterial it cannot be considered for Traffic Calming. The diversion of traffic from Pitts Memorial has further exacerbated the issue and the road itself was not designed to handle the current level or speed of traffic. In addition to this, the area is largely residential with two schools and very few commercial properties. Councillor Korab requested that a Traffic Study be undertaken to collect critical data to determine if Waterford Bridge Road should be reclassified as a collector. He further requested that the study take place in September once traffic volumes return to normal. Deputy Mayor O'Leary asked that should such a study be undertaken, that the crosswalk configuration at Syme's Bridge Road also be included.
While Members of Council were in support of the study, concerns were raised that if the study were to be expedited that other traffic calming projects would be delayed as a result. The Mayor clarified that as Waterford Bridge Road did not qualify for traffic calming under its current classification, Councillor Korab was requesting that a study take place to determine it could be reclassified. Should the road be reclassified, it could then be added to the list for consideration at a later date. The Deputy City Manager of Planning, Engineering, & Regulatory Services further advised that should Waterford Bridge Road remain as an arterial, a special directive of Council would be required in order to implement traffic calming measures. Councillor Bruce requested that information be provided on what work would be delayed in order to accommodate the proposed classification study. The Deputy City Manager will discuss the issue with Transportation Engineering Staff to determine the implications of inserting the study into their current workflow. This information will be provided to Council in advance of a motion coming forward for consideration.