A Cambridge councillor is once again urging the Region of Waterloo to prioritize safety along Myers Road and will ask for council's support to demand interim traffic calming measures along the busy stretch.
Ward 7 Coun. Scott Hamilton is bringing a notice of motion to council tonight asking that the horseshoe support measures to reduce speeds and get drivers to pay attention in light of some recent factors he believes have reduced student safety along the regional road.
They include an ongoing city-wide crossing guard shortage and the recently implemented heavy truck bypass in Galt, which has led some drivers to take a short cut down Myers Road between Franklin Boulevard and Branchton Road.
Hamilton said the McQueen-Shaver bypass will not see full construction to divert traffic away from Myers for at least a few more years, and the current temporary exit of McQueen Shaver onto Franklin Boulevard could lead to increased traffic on the road east of Franklin.
The road, east of Franklin, is home to Holy Spirit Catholic Elementary School and Moffat Creek Public School.
"The intersection of Myers Road, Lisbon Pines, and Gatehouse Drive, sees children, parents, and caregivers from two schools, one public and one Catholic, cross a dangerous intersection daily without any additional infrastructure and/or safety measures, and close-calls with cars are becoming more frequent," reads the motion.
Interim traffic calming at those intersections would allow children, parents, and caregivers to cross this road safely, until the reconstruction of Myers Road is tendered in 2026.
Council won't discuss and vote on the motion until Nov. 28.
Hamilton said the notice he's bringing forward tonight gives parents and school officials time to respond in writing or register as delegations at the next council meeting.
"I am stressing how frustrated local residents are with this road and safety," Hamilton said, adding he's advocated for stop signs and lights on the road for years.
"They've been waiting a decade."
Earlier this year, Hamilton said the unique history and geography of Holy Spirit School, Moffat Creek School and Myers Road has created a "perfect storm of conditions that can lead to accidents and injury;" no parking, few crosswalks, a large, fast road, with excited kids rushing to get to school.
Two years ago those fears played out when a boy was struck by a truck while crossing the road after school.
Following that incident, and at his and former Mayor Kathryn McGarry's urging, the region did reduce the speed limit on Myers to 40 km/hr in 2022.
The region also planned interim safety improvements on Myers this year but after an advertised tender for the project received no bids, staff was forced to postpone the project indefinitely.
Those plans included constructing a pedestrian/cycling ramp to connect Myers Road to California Road, adding raised pedestrian crossings just east of Lorraine Drive at the existing traffic signal, and in front of Moffat Creek School, and adding a pedestrian crossing at Gatehouse Road/Lisbon Pines Drive.
The region says it is reviewing possible options for 2024 and will provide an update once they’ve completed their review.
Hamilton said parents can't wait another year.
He also wants Myers Road at the top of the list of the sites the region is considering in its next phase of automated speed enforcement cameras.
The councillor's frustration with getting the Region of Waterloo to improve safety on Myers Road is echoed by parents, he said.
If he's successful at convincing council to support his motion, Hamilton wants the region to reassess the nature and dangers of school crossings on all its roads.
The motion includes staff direction to send his resolution to the Premier of Ontario, the Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, the Minister of Transportation, all local Members of Parliament and Members of Provincial Parliament, and all Ontario municipalities.
