Wellington brings traffic concerns to councillors

Wellington’s business association chairman Evan Nash brought traffic concerns to council’s Committee of the Whole meeting Thursday.

The community, he noted, is so concerned about excessive speeding through the downtown, that the association will pay for radar signs if it has to. Narrowing roads at the entrances to the town, or speed bumps to encourage drivers to slow down were also suggested.

“It’s a problem and it doesn’t seem to be going away as the town gets busier,” Nash said. “There have been two pedestrian collisions in Wellington and recently one in Picton. One of those resulted in a fatality. I would suggest that warrants some action,” said Nash, noting he has also been in conversation over the past several months with the Traffic Advisory Committee.

“I feel like we’re failing to provide basic safety to our community at this point. The problem is growing, and we’re failing,” said Nash. “If you walk around any of the small towns, hamlets and villages I would assume it’s the same everywhere else – traffic continues to pick up and we haven’t done anything about it.”

The association is working with PEC OPP Commander John Hatch to get radar signs in place and is working with the County to find answers.

“I just want to make councillors aware that this is really important to the people in Wellington,” said Nash. “The issue of parking is still a problem to be left for another time.”

Last month, a $15,000 study to examine crosswalks and traffic lights in Wellington, and Bloomfield, was approved by council.

The study is to examine the areas, indicate refinements, upgrades, or recommend crosswalks move to another area. Both crossings were identified in the 2017 Development Charges Background Study as growth-related work – both at a cost of $143,900.

A similar study was conducted in Wellington in 2005 determined a crosswalk was not needed at the time. With the closure of Pinecrest school in Bloomfield, the study will look at continued need.