City council is looking into improving traffic safety in west Orillia.
On Monday, city staff reported the results of an updated traffic, pedestrian crossing, and turning movement count study for numerous intersections on West Ridge Boulevard and University Avenue.
The safety initiative was originally brought forward by Ward 3 councillors Jeff Czetwerzuk and Jay Fallis last February, after hearing concerns about pedestrian and vehicle safety from neighbourhood residents.
City staff completed the updated study for the West Ridge Boulevard and University Avenue intersections with Monarch Drive, Vanessa Drive/Frost Court, and Stone Ridge Boulevard/Hunter Valley Road.
Staff report 40 collisions have taken place at the Monarch and West Ridge intersection between 2018 and 2023, which staff report is “significantly higher” than the city average – despite the fact the intersection is already signalized.
Staff report that “more involved methods” like geometry and alignment changes, which could require redesign and reconstruction of the intersection, may be needed to reduce collisions, and also suggested the intersection may be a suitable candidate for a red light camera installation.
On Monday, city staff recommended expanding the scope of an existing traffic signal coordination project to include a safety analysis of the intersection, to be reported back to council through a council information package at a later date.
For the other two intersections, which currently do not have traffic signals, city staff recommended against taking action at this time.
At Stone Ridge/Hunter Valley and West Ridge there were nine collisions between 2007 and 2023, and city staff reported that the intersection does not meet the Ontario Traffic Manual Book’s required warrants for traffic signals.
Similarly, the Vanessa Drive/Frost Court intersection with West Ridge saw three collisions between 2017 and 2023, and does not meet the required warrants for a traffic signal.
Regarding the possibility of mid-block pedestrian crossings, city staff recommend against their installation as the Ontario Traffic Manual Book states crossings should not be installed along a five-lane road.
Given his concerns for the neighbourhood’s safety, Fallis requested that council defer any decision on the matter to the next meeting of council.
“(I) might request of council, if there's a will, to at least delay the vote by about two weeks, so that Coun. Czetwerzuk and I have a little bit of opportunity to discuss with staff some different options,” he said. “I was definitely disappointed … with the unfortunate results, the fact that the intersection wasn't deemed warranted.”
Council voted in favour of Fallis’ request.
