By Mike Anderson
The Town is proceeding with its plan to make Lake Drive a seasonal one-way road from Civic Centre Rd to South Drive after council approved the business case for Phase 1 on December 3.
Vehicular traffic, travelling eastbound only, will occupy the eastbound lane, and a bi-directional Multi-use path (MUP) stretching 6.4 km in the westbound lane will be reserved for pedestrians and cyclists.
The MUP, from Civic Centre Rd to South Drive, will be 3.0 metres wide and have an additional 0.3 metre centre buffer zone with painted buffers and bollards.
The speed limit will remain 30 km/hr. However, a series of traffic calming measures have been proposed, including photo radar, 12 speed bumps, six pedestrian crossings, and stop signs at four major intersections.
South Drive will act as the terminus for the one-way, while Lake Drive, from South Drive to Dalton Rd, will transition to a two-way. However, Lake Drive will revert to a two-way, shared road after the summer months.
The 2025 budget allocates $400,000 for Phase 1, which will be funded by the Canada Community Building Fund, formerly known as the Gas Tax Fund (GTF). The funds will be used to complete the first year of implementation and removal. However, future funding will have to be approved by the council as part of the annual budgeting process.
According to the staff report, tendering will occur in Q1 2025, with construction slated for spring (Q2 2025).
While the Town acknowledges that one-way traffic may impact emergency response times—Georgina Fire and EMS—it proposes mitigation measures, including installing emergency-only access points from Metro Rd to De La Salle Boulevard and Lagoon Drive.
The Town will also allow emergency vehicles to access the MUP. In most instances, emergency vehicles will have to travel less than 350 metres in the MUP.
During his deputation to council on December 3, Gordon Davies, representing the residents of De La Salle Blvd, expressed concerns that emergency access might eventually lead to the street becoming a through street from Metro Rd. However, Regional Councillor Naomi Davison allayed those fears, pointing out that the Region has no interest in adding more intersections along Metro Rd.
Dan Pollard, representing the residents on South Drive, also made a deputation, referencing a petition signed by 80 residents who oppose making South Drive the terminus for the one-way.
They argued that higher traffic volumes from Lake Drive to Metro Rd via South Drive raised safety concerns, especially as the road is curved, narrow and has no sidewalks.
However, Town staff outlined a series of mitigation measures for South Drive, including stop signs, local traffic-only signage, speed bumps, and a prohibition on right turns from Lake Drive. They also pledged to meet with residents to address any additional concerns.
Pollard told the Post he was pleased with the Town’s response.
“There will be no right turns off Lake Drive onto South, which substantially changes things. Plus, there will be speed bumps on South and Hardwood. So, effectively, I think we may actually end up with less traffic than we have now,” Pollard said.
“The Town has also said if there is more abatement that you need to protect South, we’re willing to listen.”
“The Town’s job is to listen, and I think they did. So I’m very happy.”
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