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Public information session on Bloomfield’s pedestrian crossover

UPDATE: A second public information has been added. People may now also attend Wednesday, Nov. 10 from 8-9 p.m. as well as Monday, Nov. 8 from 2-4 p.m.

A proposed pedestrian crossover in Bloomfield will be the subject of a public information session Monday, Nov. 8.

Residents visiting the Bloomfield Post Office Wednesday expressed concern the meeting being held from 2-4 p.m. makes attendance difficult, but want their concerns heard as they do not wish to lose any of the three parking spots in front as they often carry heavy packages received, and to mail. One suggested the crossing should be at the Town Hall location where most of the shoppers cross over now.  Another was concerned about the Post Office’s already dicey intersection where drivers coming from Mill Street to Main must pull out to see past parked vehicles in front of Slickers Ice Cream shop – a hazard made worse by pedestrians in tourist season.

Council deferred a decision Oct. 12 to approve spending $125,000 on a new pedestrian crossover for downtown Bloomfield, seeking further input from the village’s citizens and business operators, as well as legal input.

A new crossover cannot simply be reconstructed at its former location adjacent to Corey Street due to requirements and guidelines from the Ministry of Transportation, as Bloomfield Main is a provincial connecting link.

Its proposed new location puts the crossover closer to the post office and removes a parking spot on either side of the road (used heavily by those stopping at the post office) due to the crossover’s required no stopping zones (the hash marks on the diagram above). It was noted one parking spot closest to Mill Street would remain.

The relocation of the crossover drew ire from citizens, which was passed along to councillors, and from the Bloomfield Area Business Association (BABA).

“Residents sacrifice parking all summer long,” noted councillor Phil Prinzen. “They don’t want to do it all year long,” he said, suggesting council forget doing a crossover all-together, or rethink the project.

Ccouncil asked staff to re-think the Town Hall location, consult with the public with concept designs, and also find out if there are liability issues if no crossover is built – because a study exists that confirms pedestrian and vehicle counts warrant full traffic signals, or this compromise of a crossover.

The Town Hall location would also result in the loss of two parking stalls and the Town Hall loading zone, but it was noted it is further away from the congested intersection of Corey, Mill and Main streets, and the Town Hall does have a driveway to behind, that could be used for loading. It was also noted the location is closer to most of the shops and seemed to be the natural choice of people in the area.

The meeting is to take place in person at the Bloomfield Town Hall (289 Bloomfield Main Street) from 2-4 pm. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak with staff regarding the proposed crossover and provide comment or complete a comment sheet for staff consideration.

An accident on Wellington Main Street in 2017 that resulted in the death of a pedestrian, and high traffic volumes throughout the County from growth and tourism created discussion on pedestrian crossings. Consulting firm, Jewell Engineering Inc., was engaged to complete a Crosswalk Warrant Study in Wellington, Bloomfield and Picton.

That study concluded that based on the traffic analysis and setting, that mid‐block traffic signals were warranted on Wellington Main Street and Bloomfield Main Street. The study also concluded a multi-stop pedestrian crossover was warranted on Union Street in Picton. That has since been implemented and work on the Wellington crossover is also now complete.

As per provincial regulations, attendees must show proof of vaccination and a piece of identification with their name and date of birth. Visit the Government of Ontario website to download your vaccine certificate.

Meeting attendees must wear a mask. Capacity limits will be in place to allow for physical distancing.

For more information, contact Garrett Osborne, Project Manager at 613.476.2148 extension 2002 or email gosborne@pecounty.on.ca.

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