As part of the health unit’s Simcoe Muskoka On the Move initiative, a new crosswalk and community safety zone could be coming near Orchard Park Public School to promote walking and biking to school.
At Monday’s council meeting, city council agreed to forward requests for a crosswalk on Park Street, near Calverley Street, and a community safety zone along a section of Calverley Street to the 2025 budget deliberations.
In a deputation to council last September, Orchard Park officials proposed numerous new crosswalks, sidewalks, a bike lane, and school zone signage near the school.
Orchard Park, the health unit, and other members of the ‘travel planning team’ have put together the action plan to foster active travel to and from the school.
Creating safe environments for active travel, increasing community connections, improving traffic safety, and supporting student health are some of the factors that informed the project’s school travel planning process.
The group put together the following recommendations, with city staff recommending only two for implementation at Monday’s council meeting:
- Installing a crosswalk at Park Street and Calverley Street;
- Constructing a sidewalk along South Street;
- Constructing a sidewalk on Fittons Road West;
- Installing a painted bike lane on Park Street;
- Installing school zone signage and better placement of speed limit signage along Calverley Street;
- Year-round maintenance of the paths in Carmichael Park
Staff recommended against installing a new sidewalk along South Street, as city policy suggests constructing sidewalks when road reconstruction occurs, and similarly recommended against an additional sidewalk on Fittons as one already exists on the north side of the road.
Staff also recommended against providing year-round maintenance of the paths in Carmichael Park due to “significant limitations” in being able to maintain the unpaved pathways — and no funds currently allocated to upgrade the paths or increase the level of service to the area.
Installing the pedestrian crossover and designating Calverley Street a Community Safety Zone will cost an estimated $55,000, city staff report, should the projects be approved during the 2025 budget process.
