Razmin Said, Manager, Community Safety and Well-Being, Fire and Emergency Services provided a brief overview of the subject matter and advised that she only received interest from one member of the sub-committee.
Peter Fay, City Clerk, provided clarification that anyone from the Committee can participate on a subcommittee.
Committee discussion on the matter included the following:
- Suggestion to merge the Road Safety Sub-committee with the Priority Neighborhood Sub-committee.
- Clarification that the motion passed was to establish a separate sub-committee. There was much debate at the last meeting before passing the motion regarding the establishment of a separate sub-committee.
- Staff expressed concerns that the members may be feeling there is no longer a need for the sub-committee.
- Staff provided clarification of the motion that was passed to establish a sub-committee with the addition to three additional members mentioned in the motion.
- Members can be involved with more then one sub-committee.
- The following members will participate in the Road Safety Sub-committee: Ivan Marco Macri, William Vollmar, Andrew DeGroot, David Colp
Andrew DeGroot, Committee Member, expressed concerns regarding Road Safety within Brampton and put the following motion on the floor.
Whereas the traffic lights on many major roads are timed such that drivers are rewarded for speeding to make the next green light, and,
Whereas timed traffic lights on major roads in Toronto and other cities have proven to reduce overall speed, traffic accidents, and death, and,
Whereas it has been confirmed that technology exists to time the traffic lights to ensure smooth flow traffic and that the pricing of this technology is less than in previous years, and,
Whereas traffic flows more efficiently when right and left turn lanes exist by decreasing throughway flow obstructions, and,
Whereas pedestrian safety increases as people are queued in a turn lane instead of the throughway, and,
Whereas fewer bus routes obstructions occur where turn lanes exist because buses can use the turn lanes at major intersections for their stops, and,
Whereas road safety is a concern for all Brampton residents, and,
Whereas the Williams Parkway expansion has been cancelled,
Therefore it is the opinion of the Brampton Community Safety Advisory Committee that staff be directed to explore timing the traffic lights on Williams Parkway, as a pilot project, and eventually city-wide, such that a driver heading eastbound or westbound continues to get green lights and that traffic flows smoothly, provided everyone is travelling at the posted speed limit, and,
It is the opinion of the Brampton Community Safety Advisory Committee that staff be directed to explore right and left hand turn lanes, advanced greens, and timed advancement pedestrian cross over signals (e.g. the count down don’t walk hand), at all intersections on Williams Parkway, as a pilot project, and eventually city-wide.
Councillor Palleschi expressed concern with the motion moving forward without staff present to provide feedback and expertise on the matter. Councillor Palleschi requested that the staff be notified that the recommendation will be on the next Committee of Council agenda for consideration so staff may provide feedback and further recommendations regarding the matter.
Mr. Fay advised that generally staff are present for such matters and that the motion was not anticipated at the meeting. Staff are usually advised and attend the meeting to provide feedback for Committee to consider. Mr. Fay advised that appropriate staff would be advised of the motion and that Council will be considering it at Committee of Council on March 10, 2021 by way of the minutes.
The following motion was considered.