Prompt action for Hwy. 9, Traffic signals studied
By Anneleen Naudts

York Region is taking immediate action to address excessive speeds on Highway 9.

Township councillors recently reviewed the report from the Region stating they had approved the installation of signage advising of applicable penalties for speeding, placing radar message boards to advise motorists of their speed, and commencing the process to rename Highway 9 to Davis Drive West.

Councillor Jack Rupke, who had received letters from constituents suggesting traffic signals to slow down motorists and to create traffic gaps, believed more should be done.

The Morimer family, residing on Highway 9, wrote Rupke to express concern over the increased traffic volume and speeds, which make entering their driveway "difficult and dangerous."

Their letter, which was distributed at the council meeting, suggested a traffic light be installed at Highway 9 and Keele Street to encourage slower speeds and to create traffic gaps. They also suggested lowering the speed limit to 70 km/h.

In another letter received by Rupke, Anne Mortimer and Mark Eveson, residents of Dufferin Street, south of Highway 9, reported experiencing "some anxious moments" when stopping on the highway to make a turn.

"Gaps in traffic travelling in both directions are few and uncontrolled, particularly at peak hours," they reported.

The residents suggested installing traffic lights at either Keele or Cardinal Golf Club would be instrumental to "slow traffic down and to demonstrate to many drivers that they are no longer on Highway 400."

Rupke, saying he frequently receives phone calls and mail on this issue, questioned what it would take to request York Region install traffic lights. He stressed the urgency of the complaints, wondering "how many close calls do we have to have?"

Councillor Jeff Laidlaw pointed to the drop in collisions involving injuries or fatalities on the road, which went from 27 in the 5-year period before the highway was widened some years ago to 17 in the 5 years after the widening. He noted lights at every intersection increase driving durations, stopping frequencies and fuel usage, thereby taxing the environment.

Councillor Cleve Mortelliti stated he didn't think traffic signals may be needed, but he believed the traffic situation on Highway 9 calls for mitigation. Part of the problem, he said, is that driving along Highway 9 feels similar to driving on Highway 400.

Operations Director Jody LaPlante observed the Region does not advise traffic signals. Traffic signals can result in a reduction in overall intersection safety, his report stated. Rear-end collisions can increase by as much as 60 per cent after the installation of traffic signs.

An analysis is being completed by York Region to determine the impact of traffic signals to the flow of traffic. A computer simulation model will run under three scenarios; including current conditions (no signals), with one new signal at Keele St, and with new signals at all three intersections (Dufferin, Keele and Jane Streets). The results will be presented in a report due in February.