Region is moving to address Highway 9 issues

True, it would be nice if things could be moving a bit faster, but we are talking about government, which has never been known for setting speed records.

York Region staff have been working on the traffic woes on Highway 9. Indeed, Mayor Margaret Black has indicated she's impressed with the amount of attention that has been placed on what is basically a King Township issue. But it should, of course, be quickly understood that this is not just a King issue. True, the road is in King, but the traffic comes from numerous other places, like Newmarket, Orangeville and points beyond. A public road, especially a highway like this one, is supposed to be accessible to all, regardless of where they reside. That makes this issue a lot more broad.

But it's also true that Regional staff, no matter how competent they are, can't simply wave a wand and make all the problems go away. It takes time and thought.

This issue is complicated by the fact that safety issues on Highway 9, between Bathurst Street and Highway 400 are largely perceived, as opposed to real. Indeed, the Regional staff report, which was considered last week by the Transportation and Works Committee of Regional council, stated there was a reduction in the number of accidents along the road in the first five years after it was widened, as opposed to the previous five-year period.

The concerns are for people trying to break into that traffic off one of the connecting roads, or from one of the properties there. With no traffic lights or signals between Bathurst and the 400, there's nothing to create these breaks, and they are not likely to form naturally. That means people either have to wait, and feel mounting frustration grow, or take a chance. And taking chances is never a good policy when one is driving a car, especially around traffic travelling upwards of 100 km-h, if not faster.

Traffic signals at one of the intersections has been suggested as a remedy, but staff has to have time to consider the implications of that. You can't just erect these lights, turn them on and then forget about them.

There have been other ideas put forth, such as changing the name from Highway 9 to Davis Drive West, the idea being that it will create a psychological perception that faster driving is less appropriate on a "Drive." It's hard to say if that would do much good, although we're hard pressed to imagine what harm it could do. To paraphrase The Bard, "a road by any other name will still get you where you're going."

More speed enforcement could help as well, but there is a good lesson there to bear in mind; namely if you're going to widen a road and lay down a good hard surface, people are going to use it, and they will drive as fast as they deem appropriate, posted speed limits not withstanding.

Such is our reality that addressing these issues is going to take time. But it's also true the Region is on it. We just have to be patient.