Traffic calming planned for Ava Road, Catherine Avenue

The city is taking additional measures to slow down speeding drivers.

At an operations meeting on Tuesday, Brantford councilors unanimously approved spending up to $120,000 to construct raised crosswalks and pedestrian crossovers on Ava Road at Stymie Boulevard, Oakley Road, Gaywood Gardens and at Glenhyrst Art Gallery.

In addition, a pedestrian crossover will be constructed on Ava at Scarfe Gardens; and a raised median island will be installed on Ava at Hardy Road.

Councilors say speeding is one of the most common complaints they receive from constituents.

Ward 2 Coun. John Sless said these latest traffic calming measures resulted from working for three years with residents of the neighbourhood.

“There is going to be a lot of cut-through traffic going down Ava Road this year,” said Sless, citing reconstruction of the Ava Road Bridge, set to begin in May, and residential development in the area.

Sless said drivers who get frustrated during long waits at the railway crossing often “wheel around, fly through Ava, and take out frustration of the train on people who live there.”

An earlier plan was to install chicanes on Ava Road. A chicane is a series of alternating mid-block curb extensions or islands that narrow the roadway and require vehicles to follow a curving, S-shaped path, discouraging speeding.

Mayor Kevin Davis said he had concerns about the plan when he saw chalk marks for the proposed chicanes drawn on the road last fall.

“I was a little bit concerned it would become an obstacle course driving down Ava Road and create more of a problem than it would be solving.”

count. Dan McCreary said policing also plays a role in slowing down drivers, suggesting the Brantford Police Service be asked “to provide a greater complement of dedicated officers to enforcing traffic regulations.”

Councilors also approved constructing a speed cushion, at a cost of up to $15,000, on Catherine Avenue between Sherwood Drive and Spalding Drive to slow down motorists.

count. Rose Sicoli said residents have raised concerns about the safety of pedestrians in the area.

“I understand it is a very small street but we have a lot of industry out there. Hundreds and hundreds of workers are flying down Catherine Avenue. I understand you just worked a 12-hour shift and want to get home but there are so many children on that street.”

count. Michael Sullivan said he saw a girl almost get hit by a car on Catherine Avenue when he was campaigning in the area during the municipal election.

“I talked to neighbors at the time who all expressed their deep concern about the speeding,” he said.

Sicoli said she has come to the conclusion that “speed limit signs are worth about the tin they’re printed on in the city.”

“If we’re not doing something to slow the cars and put our money where our mouth is, and say it’s important to us to keep the children safe and residents safe in this neighborhood, then I don’t know what we’re doing up here.”