GOVERNORS ROAD

pedestrians low priority

2010-02-27T12:31:00.000-08:00

An article in the Dundas Star about over-intensification of a retirement community (reneging on a promise of green-space for residents in favour of another 90 unit condo) at Spencer Creek Village (Ogilvie and Hatt Street) shows opposition, and a concern for pedestrian issues not addressed in the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan (DDTMP). The article quotes resident Craig Simpson:

“The intersection of Governors and Ogilvie is already a bottleneck today. New sources of traffic were not considered in the DDTMP,” Simpson said. “No projects of this type, or St. Joseph’s Villa, should be considered until pedestrian safety issues are addressed.”

As we have seen in the DDTMP, pedestrian issues take a back seat to road widening schemes to ensure traffic flows without delays, and people who walk will be put at greater risk due to extra lanes of traffic, and greater distances to traverse.

fattening up the roadways

2010-02-04T18:38:00.000-08:00

Governor's at Ogilvie - due to be widened - the intersection is already the site of recent pedestrian fatalities and injuries.

Governor's Road, looking east from east of Creighton, due to be widened by another lane of traffic...
Governor's Road bridge over Spencer Creek, up for widening in the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan...

Intersection of Osler/Main and Governor's/Dundas due for extra turning lanes, yes, more widening thanks to the DDTMP...

Governors and Ogilvie, again

2009-12-21T14:15:00.000-08:00

[If the city gets their way, this already dangerous intersection will be made more so for pedestrians, given the City's plan to widen the crossing by adding through lanes, as presented in the final draft of the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan...]

Dundas woman struck crossing road

Paul Morse, Hamilton Spectator

A 51-year-old Dundas woman is in hospital with non-life threatening injuries after she was struck by a car while crossing Governor’s Road in Dundas this afternoon.

Police say the pedestrian was in the crosswalk heading south at Ogilvie when she was struck by a car turning right onto Governor's around 1 p.m. Monday.

Charges against a 71-year-old female driver from Woodham, Ont. are pending, said Hamilton police media officer Sergeant Terri-Lynn Collings.

http://thespec.com/News/Local/article/694664

widening governor's road?

2009-12-10T13:19:00.000-08:00

The Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan (DDTMP) is going into the 60 day review period, with a Public Information Centre (PIC) on Tuesday December 15, 2009, 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Dundas Municipal Centre (Dundas Town Hall) 60 Main Street, Dundas, ON L9H 5E7.

(The city's pdf announcement is here.)

The 60-day review period began December 4, 2009.

Please attend the PIC and add your comments.

sick of traffic?

2009-11-10T19:30:00.000-08:00

Safety issues won’t move H1N1 clinic

Governor’s Road site will remain in use

Craig Campbell, News Staff

Published on Nov 06, 2009

Dundas Baptist Church on Governor’s Road will remain one of Hamilton’s four HINI influenza immunization clinics as long as the city still has doses of the vaccine, despite problems with traffic safety in the surrounding area.

Hamilton Police expressed concerns over the location of the main immunization clinic when it was announced. And Division 30 Inspector Bob Buck said there were traffic and pedestrian safety issues on the already controversial road right from the start.

“It became dangerous,” Inspector Buck said. “We raised that issue. We expressed concern about that location. From a traffic and pedestrian standpoint, it’s a difficult location.”

As the only immunization clinic for at-risk residents open all five days Oct. 26-30, the Dundas Baptist Church site saw the biggest influx of people by far. Hamilton Public Health Services staff say more than 8,000 people were injected with the H1N1 vaccine –that’s more than 1,600 people each day and over 280 people every hour.

But residents saw the impact as thousands of people looked for limited parking and lined up along the side of Governor’s Road waiting their turn.

“It was crazy,” said Randy Kay of the group Transportation for Livable Communities, which has been calling for safety and pedestrian improvements to Governor’s Road.

“The parking lot filled, cars parked on the side street, and cars backed up two lanes wide to Overfield. Crazy!”

He went by the Baptist Church clinic last Friday about 15 minutes before it closed. Mr. Kay suggested hindsight may encourage Public Health to examine the location, and move the immunization clinic somewhere with more parking or find a site people can get to without a car if they choose.

But Public Health spokesperson Tara Hall said no review of the location has taken place, and the clinic will not move from that site

“Dundas Baptist Church is one of four permanent locations,” Ms. Hall said.

The site met the required criteria for H1N1 clinics, including providing enough space and being available to the city for the required four to six weeks.

As long as Hamilton still has vaccine available, the Governor’s Road location is scheduled to be used until just before Christmas. It wasn’t known earlier this week when the clinic will open to the general public.

Ms. Hall said the public health department hopes having more clinics open this week, and insisting only the most at-risk residents get the vaccine for now, pressure on the Dundas location will ease and there will be fewer traffic and pedestrian safety problems.

Hamilton Police put an on-duty officer at the site immediately, expecting it to be an issue when it opened last Monday at 1 p. m. But when police discovered how busy it was and the officer was unavailable to respond to calls, a paid-duty or overtime officer was assigned to the site.

But police and public health commended each other on their individual efforts to keep the location as safe as possible, and manage the large numbers of people.

Inspector Buck said clinic staff did a really good job managing the people who showed up, and Ms. Hall said police did a great job managing traffic and providing safe pedestrian crossing across Governor’s Road.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/193731

cars over pedestrians...

2009-09-20T19:26:00.000-07:00

[How do pedestrian safety concerns get translated by the city into widening the road? - ed]

Loss of family pet renews calls for Governor’s Rd. improvements
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News Staff
Published on Sep 18, 2009

A new Dundas resident has joined his Governor’s Road neighbours in demanding improvements to the thoroughfare after his dog was killed by a speeding car.

Gary Mckeown said he was walking his four-year-old Sheltie, Dawson, on a leash, when it stepped into the curbside lane and was struck by a red SUV or van. The dog died instantly.

Mr. Mckeown estimated the female driver was travelling more than 30 km-h over the speed limit when she moved into the curb lane to pass another vehicle, hitting Dawson.

“She didn’t even stop,” Mr. Mckeown said. “She had to know she hit a dog. Is she so heartless she couldn’t stop to say sorry?”

The incident raised his concern for pedestrian safety. He questioned why there is no crosswalk or traffic light at the corner of Overfield and Governor’s, where St. Joseph’s Villa long-term care facility is located. He also said the 50 km-h speed limit is not clearly marked in the area.

Within two weeks of moving to his Governor’s Road townhouse, Mr. Mckeown began raising the same concerns other area residents have had for years.

Hamilton Police Services Division Three Sergeant Mike Senchyshak said he heard about the dog’s death after Mr. Mckeown called police to complain about speeding on Governor’s Road.

“We’ve since made it a special attention,” Sgt. Senchyshak said. “We have had previous complaints about Governor’s Road, mostly in the area of the schools.”

Vehicles not stopping for school buses and illegally passing on the unpaved shoulder are among the complaints received by police.

Despite previous accidents in the area, including a collision that killed an elderly woman, proposed improvements along Governor’s Road have been delayed for four years.

Preliminary recommendations

The Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan preliminary recommendations included several changes to the Governor’s Road-Ogilvie Street intersection and a roundabout at Governor’s Road and Davidson Boulevard.

But staffing changes at the City of Hamilton delayed both projects. Diana Morreale recently took over as project manager, and is the third project manager of the master plan process since it began in May 2008.

Ms. Morreale said recommendations to widen Governor’s Road to four lanes between Creighton and Osler by adding additional westbound and eastbound lanes will be included in the final staff report. Other final recommendations for the Governor’s- Ogilvie intersection from the draft report include: adding a northbound left turn phase; changing the lane configuration of the southbound approach to feature an exclusive left turn lane with 15 metres of storage plus a shared through-right turn lane.

These changes are anticipated between 2012 and 2021 and are intended to alleviate traffic congestion. It’s not clear how the changes will address speeding or pedestrian safety, but Ms. Morreale said adjusting pedestrian signal timings will be recommended.

The proposed roundabout has completed a 30-day review period without opposition and apparently awaits approval in the 2010 budget process. It was originally supported by traffic staff in 2005.

turning the corner

2009-06-27T15:15:00.000-07:00

Roundabout back on track
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News Staff, Published on Jun 26, 2009

After more than three years and plenty of study, a Governor’s Road roundabout has a couple more hoops to jump through before it becomes a reality.

Hamilton city council’s public works committee approved implementation of the roundabout plan on Governor’s Road at Davidson Boulevard last week. Following final approval by city council this week, the plan will be filed for a 30-day public review and then await funding approval in the 2010 budget process. Originally suggested by former Dundas councillor Art Samson and investigated by city staff in 2005, the idea was added to the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan process in May 2008. The Governor’s and Davidson location was recommended and released to the public for comment in October 2008.

But five months later, staffing changes on the transportation master plan put both projects on hold while all recommendations and public submissions were reviewed again.

Project manager Lorissa Skrypniak said last week the roundabout plan was pulled out of the master plan process so it could move forward on its own while the master plan review continues.

Ms. Skrypniak expects a master plan report to go to public works committee in September.

moving ahead, in a slightly circular motion

2009-06-18T21:00:00.000-07:00

Another step closer to a modern roundabout on Governor's Road: a great way to govern the intersection at Davidson, and to help calm traffic heading into the (3) school zone!

Check out the link to more info here!

waiting around

2009-04-02T05:46:00.000-07:00

Roundabout plan delayed
Review could ‘fine tune’ recommendations
Craig Campbell, News Staff
Published on Mar 27, 2009

A roundabout on Governor’s Road at Davidson Boulevard has been further delayed as the Dundas Downtown Transportation Master Plan undergoes a complete review.

The local transportation master plan process began in May 2008. The three-year-old proposed roundabout on Governor’s Road was added to the review a month later, despite the Governor’s-Davidson intersection falling outside the core master plan area.

Last week, Lorissa Skrypniak of the City of Hamilton’s environmental planning department said she had replaced Natasha D’Souza as project manager of the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan.

“We are in the process of revisiting the recommendations that we had presented and in some instances may fine tune some of the recommendations,” Ms. Skrypniak said. “We are in the process of undertaking this analysis now and therefore have delayed releasing the final report.”

The new project manager said she will also review the consultant’s report recommending a roundabout at Governor’s and Davidson.

A public meeting was held last May to introduce the project to the community and solicit public input. Following stakeholder meetings in May and September, a second public meeting was held in October to release the recommendations of the draft master plan and get more public input.

At the October meeting a consultant hired to prepare the master plan verified the Governor’s and Davidson intersection was the best location for a roundabout. It compared that intersection to Governor’s at Pirie, but concluded the Davidson intersection “offers the most opportunity to address the problem of vehicle delays and traffic buildup.”

City traffic staff was first asked to review Governor’s at Davidson for a possible roundabout in 2005 by then Dundas city councillor Art Samson and his community council.

At the time, city staff was supportive of the idea and noted widening Governor’s Road would not be an option.

Yet the Dundas Downtown Transportation Master Plan’s draft recommendations in October included a proposal to widen Governor’s Road.

The final master plan report was originally expected for November 2008.

The idea of widening Governor’s Road and a lack of short-term improvements for pedestrians, cyclists and transit in the draft master plan drew fire from Transportation for Livable Communities, which made a submission suggesting the plan did not deliver on its objectives or principles and argued the draft plan does more to accommodate cars than sustainable forms of transportation.
http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/168457

round-a-bout ways to a roundabout

2008-11-07T06:00:00.001-08:00

Consultant verifies three-year-old idea for roundabout
Craig Campbell, News Staff
Published on Nov 07, 2008

Three years after it was first identified as the best location for a roundabout, the intersection of Governor’s Road and Davidson Boulevard has been chosen as the preferred site for the traffic calming device.

The idea was first raised in the fall of 2005 by then Dundas city councillor Art Samson. He brought City of Hamilton traffic engineering staff to his community council to discuss the proposal. At the time, traffic staff explained the intersection warranted a stoplight, but they wanted to review the roundabout option and check out the possibility of locating the roundabout at Pirie Drive and Governor’s Road.

According to city traffic staff at the time, widening Governor’s Road was no longer considered an option for dealing with traffic.

Mr. Samson’s community council quickly agreed with the suggestion, and city manager of traffic signals and systems Ron Gallo was directed to move ahead with environmental assessments of both Governor’s Road at Davidson and Governor’s Road at Pirie Drive as potential roundabout locations.

Supported by the local city councilor, city staff and Dundas community council, the roundabout review was expected to be submitted as part of the 2007 budget deliberations.

Last week, the results of a study conducted by two consultants on possible intersection improvements were released at a public information centre at Dundas town hall.

The findings verified traffic lights are warranted at the Davidson Boulevard intersection, as city staff said three years ago, but not at the Pirie Drive intersection. It noted the former intersection had a higher volume of traffic exiting side roads.

Improve traffic safety

“The need to improve the Davidson (Boulevard) intersection in order to meet the signal warrant will also improve traffic safety and reduce vehicle speeds in the corridor,” the consultant report states. “The Davidson (Boulevard) intersection offers the most opportunity to address the problem of vehicle delays and traffic buildup.”

The study went on to compare the advantages and disadvantages of both placing traffic signals, with new turn lanes, median islands, curbs and line painting at the Davidson intersection, and the construction of a roundabout there.

The consultants concluded a roundabout is preferred because it resolves problems of vehicle delays and traffic buildup, provides the greatest impact for lowering speeds on Governor’s Road, improves overall safety in the area, increases intersection capacity, reduces vehicle emissions and provides an opportunity to create a Dundas gateway feature.

Three years after the city was first asked to review a roundabout at Governor’s and Davidson, the project will now proceed to reviews of public comments and meetings with affected residents and groups.

A proposal for a roundabout at Governor’s and Davidson might then be refined and submitted to city councillors for endorsement.
http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/150643

rounding up

2008-10-30T17:13:00.000-07:00

Quick update from tonight's Public Information Centre on the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan: the preferred treatment for Governor's Road is a roundabout, rather than a traffic signal, at Governor's and Davidson!

This is an excellent bit of infrastructure that will allow good flow of automobiles, but at the same time help calm traffic speeds entering the school zone from the west.

It still has to go through a process before any work is undertaken, but we are very happy with the direction!

getting the point across

2008-09-05T07:36:00.000-07:00

well done, Brianna!

Governor's Road at Huntingwood definitely needs a crosswalk

Dundas Star News, Published on Sep 05, 2008

Re: No new crossing guards on Governor's Road, Aug. 29.

As a Grade 8 student of St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School, I know how important a crosswalk at Huntingwood and Governor's Roads would be. I walk to and/or from school quite often and use Huntingwood to get home because it is more convenient to cross over to our neighbourhood from that intersection.

I believe we should have a crosswalk at Huntingwood and Governor's because all other elementary schools in Dundas have a crosswalk within 10 metres of the school property, but the closest two controlled crossings from St. Bernadette's School are at Creighton and Governors (0.3 kilometres from the school) and Castlewood and Governor's (0.4 kilometres from the school). Also there have been quite a few accidents at Huntingwood and Governor's.

We don't need a full stoplight, just a crossing guard, or crossing light that is activated by pedestrians.

I am glad that my principal was trying to get a crossing guard at this intersection, and I am surprised and disappointed that city staff would deny a crosswalk.

Brianna Kennelly

Dundas

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/142025

charged

2008-08-31T08:10:00.001-07:00

Driver charged in pedestrian's death

The Hamilton Spectator

(Aug 26, 2008)

Hamilton police have charged a utility company driver involved in Hamilton's 12th traffic fatality of the year.

Aleksandar Dzikic, 56, of Dundas has been charged with the Highway Traffic Act offence of careless driving after a collision at the corner of Ogilvie Street and Governor's Road in Dundas that claimed the life of Marjorie Rivers, 89, on Aug. 14.

Rivers was walking home after shopping when she tried to cross Governor's Road on a green light at the intersection.

Police say a Union Gas utility pickup that was stopped at the red light made a left turn on the green and struck Rivers as she began to cross.

Dzikic will appear in a Hamilton court Sept. 24.

Under the Highway Traffic Act, a conviction for careless driving carries a fine of $200 to $1,000, a jail term of up to six months, or both, as well as a licence suspension of up to two years.

Police ask any witnesses to call Detective Constable Bob Blankstein of the collision reconstruction unit at 905-546-4755.

http://thespec.com/article/424940

nothing new

2008-08-29T20:51:00.000-07:00

stasis is the status quo...

No new crossing guards on Governor's Road

Craig Campbell

Published on Aug 29, 2008

Despite ongoing pedestrian safety concerns around three Governor's Road schools, no crossing guards are being added.

With classes set to start within days, Dundas students will begin the year with only seven crossing guards, compared to the nine in place a year ago.

Three local crossing guard locations were removed over the past year. Only one crossing guard was added, at Bridlewood and Governor's, since the opening of Sir William Osler School last winter. The elementary school took on the student populations of both Dundas District and Central Park, as well as some Dundana students.

The City of Hamilton rejected a request from St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School's principal to relocate the Creighton and Governor's guard to Huntingwood Road - an uncontrolled intersection more commonly used by students than the stoplight-protected intersection at Creighton. A 15-year-old Highland High School student was struck by a car while crossing at Hungtingwood two years ago. There have been many near collisions and several vehicle collisions there.

Participants in a pedestrian safety walkabout of the three neighbouring Governor's Road schools supported the requested relocation of a guard, as well as potentially adding an extra crossing guard for Sir William Osler.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/141226

fatality on Governor's at Ogilvie

2008-08-22T10:22:00.000-07:00

Ongoing safety concerns plague Ogilvie intersection
89-year-old struck and killed crossing street last week

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News.
Published on Aug 22, 2008

Pedestrian safety concerns about the intersection of Governor's Road and Ogilvie Street were raised at a Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan public meeting 10 weeks before 89-year-old Marjorie Rivers was struck and killed by a truck just west of the intersection.

City of Hamilton staff is reviewing several possible recommendations to improve safety for pedestrians at Ogilvie and Governor's, a busy area for residents of two high-rise apartment buildings and hundreds of seniors.

Hamilton police continue an investigation of the accident, which has already led to a careless driving charge against an unnamed 55-year-old Dundas man. A coroner's investigation also continues.

Advance left turns in up to four directions, road widening, a roundabout, and timing adjustments of pedestrian and traffic signals are among recommendations a city staff committee is reviewing. Project co-coordinator Natasha D'Souza said feasible recommendations will be brought to a fall public meeting. On June 5, the intersection was the subject of several public comments during a presentation on preliminary studies of transportation in the centre of Dundas.

Governor's and Ogilvie was one of only two Dundas intersections projected to be a problem in both low population growth and high population growth.

According to a summary of public comments from the meeting, "special attention" was requested for this particular intersection "because many seniors are crossing there." One resident reported a near accident at the intersection while traveling to the transportation meeting that very night. Another comment noted excessive traffic volumes at Governor's and Ogilvie and requested "pedestrian crossing provisions."

Mrs. Rivers was apparently returning home to her apartment in Governor's Estates at 50 Governor's Rd. after a shopping trip to the grocery store on the northeast corner of the busy intersection, about 11:35 a.m. on Thursday, Aug. 14.

She was struck by a Union Gas truck turning left onto Governor's Road from Ogilvie Street and proceeding westbound on Governor's away from Dundas. She suffered head and chest injuries. Some of her belongings remained scattered on the sidewalk, past the marked crosswalk.

Mrs. Rivers was taken by paramedics to Hamilton General Hospital, the destination for all adult trauma injuries. The trip took 11 minutes, passing McMaster University Medical Centre on the way, arriving at the hospital at 12:09 p.m. Hamilton Emergency Medical Services reported no delay in getting Mrs. Rivers to the trauma team.

Mrs. Rivers died the next afternoon. The cause of death has not been released.

For area residents, the dangers of walking in the area of Governor's Road and Ogilvie Street are well-known.

When he heard about Mrs. Rivers, Governor's Green apartment resident Andy Cranbury immediately thought it was an elderly woman in his building, at 101 Governor's Rd. who walks to the same grocery store nearly every day.

"We support a delayed (or) advanced light at Ogilvie because at certain times of the day, making left turns from any direction can be difficult," said Mr. Cranbury, a board member of the Governor's Green Tenant's Association.

He noted several threats to pedestrians in the area, particularly the many seniors who walk there.

"This area requires full attention regardless of whether you are walking or driving," he said. "...all the distractions for drivers and walkers, looking both ways, knowing you must move when the opening allows, not wanting to wait another light or two, adds to the danger.

"Walking and bicycle riding along these areas is a life-threatening venture at the best of times. In an era of encouragement of physical fitness, walking and biking, speed limits are not being lowered. I guess it's a matter of respect for one another for the laws of physics. You know, a vehicle doesn't have to be going very fast to inflict serious damage on a human body."

Safety problems

Dundas resident and transit activist Randy Kay discussed pedestrian safety problems at Governor's and Ogilvie last summer on his Governor's Road weblog.

At the time, Mr. Kay suggested wider sidewalks at Ogilvie and Governor's, noting the existing pedestrian walkways are too narrow, and only exist on one side of Ogilvie.

"And why aren't we talking about traffic calming here?" he wrote.

"Think boldly. Eliminate one bridge (on Ogilvie, north of Governor's) and open Spencer Creek to view. It would make the intersection more beautiful, not to mention safer."

Mr. Kay stated closing the bridge would eliminate some turning problems for vehicles trying to turn west onto Governor's from Ogilvie -- the same turn that ended in Mrs. Rivers' death last week.

He observed drivers attempting that maneuver "often aggressively turn to make the short green light."

Rod Aitchison of the City of Hamilton's traffic engineering department said there is no advance left turn signal in any direction at Governor's Road and Ogilvie. He said pedestrians are also permitted to cross on a green light, while traffic can turn left through their path.

"The timing of the pedestrian signal meets the required standards," Mr. Aitchison said. "The amount of time is tailored to the specific intersection."

He would not say how long drivers have to complete a left turn or how long pedestrians have to cross the street, and how those times compare to other intersections.

Mr. Kay, also a member of Transportation for Livable Communities, said the group opposes "so-called" roadway improvements that would include two-way left-turn lanes along Governor's Road and widening of Governor's Road.

He said the closure of Ogilvie Street north of Governor's Road is his own idea.

"It would allow the extension of a pedestrian area along Artist's Way right up to the creek at Governor's. With all the senior residences there, it would aid the elderly in accessing shopping in a safer environment."

Dr. Jack Stanborough, the regional supervising coroner, said all non-natural deaths are investigated by the coroner's office.

He said the decision to bypass the closest hospital at McMaster and take Mrs. Rivers to Hamilton General was the right one.

"If she was my mother, I would have wanted her triaged and treated the way she was," Dr. Jack Stanborough said.

He noted the pedestrian safety issues at the intersection, and also said the cause of Mrs. Rivers' death would not be released without consent from her next-of-kin.
http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/140440

pedestrian struck crossing Governor's at Ogilvie

2008-08-15T07:24:00.000-07:00

Woman, 89, hit by truck while crossing street

Paul Morse, The Hamilton Spectator,
DUNDAS (Aug 15, 2008)
An elderly woman is in critical condition after she was hit by a utility company pickup truck while crossing a street.

Hamilton police say the 89-year-old woman was crossing Governor's Road at Ogilvie Street just before noon yesterday when she was struck by the Union Gas vehicle.

Staff Sergeant Dominic Palmieri says the northbound pickup turned left onto Governor's Road and collided with the woman who was crossing Governor's on the green light.

Police say they believe the woman was returning to her nearby apartment building after shopping for groceries.

"The pedestrian had stepped off the curb and had taken a couple of steps when she was struck," Palmieri said.

She was taken to Hamilton General Hospital with head and chest injuries where she underwent an emergency CT scan of her head.

Police were forced to close the intersection for most of yesterday afternoon while Hamilton police collision reconstruction unit experts investigated.

pmorse@thespec.com 905-526-3434

Governor's future in the Dundas Downtown Transportation Master Plan

2008-06-30T17:45:00.000-07:00

Transportation for Liveable Communities' (TLC) submission to the Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan contains much that applies to our area of town: some excerpts: (full document on line at tlchamilton.org)

Transit riders face long waits and often unreliable service from the HSR; new residential growth at the west end of Governor's Road have no weekend bus service and only minimal service during the week.
Too many single occupancy vehicles pass three schools on Governor's Road while pedestrians and cyclists are forced to share narrow sidewalks, creating conflict between these modes of sustainable transportation.
Necessary traffic calming to address speeding should be undertaken as part of any changes to the road design, and done in a way that will enhance the pedestrian and cycling amenities.
Dundas is poorly served by public transit with hour long waits outside of peak hours and poor circulation for residents within the former town limits; TLC supports improvements to transit within the former town that would better connect people between homes and business/commercial areas, with the possibility of creating a transit hub that would allow convenient (protected from weather) and efficient (no long waits between buses) transfer to Hamilton-bound HSR buses like the Bee Line or Delaware.
Consideration should be given to Dundas transit users' needs when the Bus Rapid Transit and/or Light Rail Transit is planned. Ease of transfer between local buses and higher-order express service, including integration with GO transit terminal at McMaster, should be a priority for the HSR/TMP.
TLC strongly supports the use of roundabouts at key intersections to serve as an effective traffic calming and traffic safety measure, specifically at Governor's Road and Davidson; TLC also suggests a roundabout to replace the current traffic lights at Governor's and Creighton, and another roundabout at Ogilvie/South/Old Ancaster. Having roundabouts on the periphery of the downtown (i.e. just outside the study area) will make important contributions to the feel of the transportation system for people entering the study area.
The Governor's Road has need for such traffic calming, and more (wider sidewalks, bicycle lanes, etc) in the vicinity of the three schools between Creighton and Castlewood/Bridlewood. to encourage active routes to school and to deal with excessive traffic speed.
To ensure year round walkability, a sidewalk clearing strategy must be in place to remove snow and ice in a timely manner after snowfalls. Routes must be clear and direct, and not left to individual homeowners and businesses when that results in long periods of inaction and obstructed routes. The emphasis should be on pro-active pedestrian mobility, and not on by-law enforcement of non-compliant snow removers.
To support pedestrian activity, attention to making walking routes comfortable and attractive should be a priority
Attention to intersection turning radii are important so that crossing distances for pedestrians are not unduly increased to allow ease of turning movements for vehicles. Ease of turning for motor vehicles also means more danger for pedestrians crossing at intersections since drivers do not have to pay as much attention to making their turn. Main Street at Governor's/Dundas Street is an example of a car-centric design at the expense of pedestrian comfort and safety, especially the west side of the intersection; or the west side of the Governor's Road and Huntingwood intersection. Tight turning radii should be the norm for new intersections and retrofit to existing overbuilt intersections.
Further, pedestrian crossing signals at several intersections require a pedestrian to activate the crossing button and wait, often for a full cycling of the lights, before the walk signal activates. This alienates pedestrians in the transportation hierarchy, in direct contravention of stated goals to encourage active transportation. The argument that the increase in wait times for traffic queued at a secondary street results in an increase in idling with resultant pollution is not strong enough to override the needs of pedestrians, and indeed, marginalizes pedestrian activity. TLC wants this signal policy altered to better serve pedestrian needs, with the full cycling of walk signal as a default for intersections, in particular the Creighton at Governor's and the Castlewood/Bridlewood at Governor's intersections.
TLC supports the use of pedestrian signals with digital countdowns at intersections of multi-lane roadways in order to provide pedestrian support in making safe crossings.
TLC opposes the so-called "roadway improvements" identified previously in the City of Hamilton Road Network Strategy that would see "two-way left turn lanes along Grovernor’s [sic] Road between Creighton Drive and Bridlewood Drive and widening Grovernor’s [sic] Road from Creighton Drive to Osler Drive." After consulting with stakeholders with an interest in traffic safety on Governor's Road TLC would prioritize cycling and walking amenities identified in the Hamilton TMP (bike lanes) and traffic calming with no road widening. Road widening would not benefit active modes on this stretch of road with three schools (two primary/middle and one secondary schools), and the Road Network Strategy's emphasis on auto-mobilty detracts from the DDTMP's goal of increasing active modes. We also point to the Hamilton TMP for their recognition of the need for bicycle lanes extending from the current terminus of the Cootes Drive Bicycle Path, "Dundas Street-Governor's Road" from Cootes Drive to Castlewood Blvd as a medium term objective. Thus, the two objectives are at odds, with only the TMP serving the interests of active modes along Governor's Road, which positively contributes to cycling connectivity, directness, continuity and enhances safety and comfort.
Traffic calming should be part of any road changes to support shifts from automotive to sustainable modes. Speed limits through business districts, school zones, and residential areas should reflect the needs of pedestrians and cyclists for safety and comfort.
Cycling improvements identified for Dundas in the Hamilton TMP should be priority items for implementation: these include...in the medium term, Dundas Street and Governor's Road from Cootes Drive to Castlewood Blvd (bike lanes)...

YES: Roundabout...

2008-06-19T19:08:00.000-07:00

Not the hit song by prog-rock band YES, but an important traffic calming device for Governor's Road:

Roundabout review part of master plan
Intersections expected to handle growth
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News, Published on Jun 13, 2008

A review of a roundabout on Governor's Road will be combined with the ongoing Downtown Dundas Transportation Master Plan, more than two years after the traffic calming tool was suggested by former Dundas councillor Art Samson.

Natasha D'Souza of the City of Hamilton's environmental planning department is overseeing both projects.

She said feasibility assessments of roundabouts on Governor's Road at Davidson Boulevard, and Governor's at Pirie Drive will be completed for a scheduled fall open house on the local transportation master plan. A preferred option for a roundabout location will be presented at that time, but residents will have an opportunity to comment on it.

Meanwhile, the master plan background research indicates key downtown intersections will be able to handle future growth with few delays.

That means the master plan process will focus on providing alternative forms of transportation in Dundas, including public transit, bicycle lanes and pedestrian paths, in an area bounded by Matilda Street, York Street, King Street and Governor's Road, between Main and Ogilvie.

A preliminary public information session, introducing the master plan process and background information, was held last Thursday evening. At least 20 people dropped in.

The public session took place after a poorly attended stakeholder meeting, where only a few interested residents showed up to provide comments and ideas to the project team.

Under a "low growth" scenario, the background research found two problem intersections: Governor's Road at Ogilvie Street, and Hatt Street at Market Street.

Under a high growth scenario, those intersections are again projected to be problems, and the intersections of Hatt and Memorial, plus Governor's and Main Street, were also added.

Master plan research states these four intersections could "experience delays due to higher volumes of commuter traffic along Governor's Road, which functions as a major arterial roadway connecting Dundas to other communities."

Just a week before, participants in a safety audit agreed the philosophy of Governor's Road as a highway into Dundas must change to reflect its current use for education and residential purposes, with a recent increase in pedestrians and cyclists.

Analysis of collision data from 2002 to 2007 found two intersections of concern: Dundas at Governor's plus Main and Osler. Both intersections had a statistically significant number of left-turn, angle and rear-end collisions.

Ms. D'Souza said this week she was skimming through comments submitted by residents at the open house. A summary will be posted on the city Web site.
http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/132293

Governing Philosophy

2008-06-08T06:09:00.000-07:00

Audit suggests changes to update road philosophy

Participants watch Governor's drivers ignore rules during school dismissal

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News
Published on Jun 06, 2008

Governor's Road is still treated as a highway access to Dundas, despite a drastic change in its use, Dundas' public school board trustee said last week.

Jessica Brennan participated in a safety walkabout on Governor's Road, joining a group that focussed on traffic, pedestrian and cycling issues around the new Sir William Osler Elementary School. Another group focussed on issues around St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School, less than one kilometre away.

"It's the philosophy of the road," Ms. Brennan said during a short discussion that raised no less than 19 issues to pursue, following last Thursday's safety review.

"It used to be thought of as a highway into Dundas. That doesn't address the current use."

She noted Governor's Road now revolves around educational and residential uses, with a new focus on pedestrians and cyclists. Ms. Brennan's comments echoed points made by many other participants.

Most agreed the philosophy of the road, and driver attitude, has to change to meet the reality of its current use.

To help address this, the City of Hamilton will reassess placement of crossing guards on Governor's Road, and consider a recommendation to move the current crossing guard at Creighton Road to Huntingwood, and potentially adding a second crossing guard at Bridlewood.

Governor's Road will also be reviewed for dedicated bike lanes. The Hamilton Wentworth District School Board will be asked to add more bike racks to accommodate a large number of students who ride to school.

Concern was also expresssed about the lack of sidewalks on Governor's Road, beyond Moss Boulevard.

Organized by Transportation for Livable Communities and city staff from public health and traffic services, the walkabout included Dundas councillor Russ Powers and his administrative assistant Arlene Vanderbeek, the local public school trustee, staff of St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School and parents from Sir William Osler - but no staff representatives of Highland Secondary School or Sir William Osler.

In total, 17 people participated in the safety review, during Safe Kids Week.

St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School Principal Rukshi Athulathmudali will request increased police and bylaw enforcement of No Stopping and No Parking areas in front of the school.

During last week's audit, a car made an illegal U-turn in front of the school then parked on the sidewalk, in a clearly marked No Stopping zone.

Several students dashed across Governor's Road from between parked cars crammed into a no parking area intended for emergency vehicles. School staff discourage parents from parking there, but the bylaw does permit parking for 15-minutes.

Ms. Athulathmudali would also like to see a curb, or sidewalk, placed across the street from the school, to dissuade drivers from passing on the soft shoulder or attempting U-turns.

It was suggested relocating a Creighton and Governor's crossing guard closer to St. Bernadette at Huntingwood, would provide a closer crossing option for young students.

Ms. Athulathmudali also said drivers are not obeying the 40 km-h flashing school zone that includes the three school stretch of Governor's Road.

Without assistance

Over at Sir William Osler, Ms. Brennan noticed there were more school children crossing Governor's Road than the single crossing guard could accommodate. That resulted in some students crossing at different areas without the assistance of a crossing guard.

A second guard at Osler and relocating a guard to Huntingwood will be part of the Governor's Road crossing guard analysis by the city.

Several vehicles speeding along Governor's Road illegally used the unpaved shoulder to pass another car waiting to turn left into the school's parking lot.

Ms. Athulathmudali, and a St. Bernadette teacher also participating in the safety walk, said drivers speeding by on the shoulder is a common occurrence that has resulted in a few staff members being rear-ended in front of the school.

Ms. Brennan also asked for an update on a proposed Governor's Road roundabout, and the potential widening of the street.

A list of 19 issues and questions raised during last week's walkabout, including investigation of traffic calming measures and increasing by-law and police enforcement, has been produced and representatives of the city, school boards, or Transportation for Livable Communities have been asked to follow-up.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/131416

site visit and walk about

2008-05-04T11:47:00.000-07:00

Three school stretch reviewed for Safe Kids Week

Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News, Published on May 02, 2008

A community safety walk of Governor's Road will mark Canada's Safe Kids Week.

The walkabout to assess pedestrian and cyclist safety on the stretch of Governor's Road near two elementary schools and one high school will be hosted by Transportation for Livable Communities. It's one of about 1,000 community projects being held in the last week of May in a program organized by Safe Kids Canada.

Anyone interested in participating is welcome to meet in front of St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School at 3:15 p.m. on Thursday, May 29.

Safe Kids Week project leader Denyse Boxell said participants hosting their own event are encouraged to download the Safe Kids Canada pedestrian safety guide and use it to assist in their own assessment.

The Safe Kids Canada Web site also offers a four-page community walkabout scoresheet for community groups to use during their assessments.

The scoresheet includes 16 different questions; each is allocated one point for a 'no' answer, two points for 'sometimes', three for 'yes' and zero points for 'don't know'.

Questions include: Can streets be easily, safely and conveniently crossed? Do drivers drive the speed limit? Do sidewalks exist? Are sidewalks well maintained? Are there traffic calming measures?

Each question includes teaching or discussion points to help assess that particular question, or safety indicator.

A total score for the walkabout below 17 points is assessed with the statement "Community needs to make considerable effort to create pedestrian friendly environment."

A score in the range of 17 to 32 points is defined as pedestrian friendly in some areas, but needing more work in others. And a score of 33 or more points is considered "very pedestrian friendly."

Ms. Boxell said Safe Kids Canada will provide further support and education to any community group that requests it.

"We lobby local and provincial governments to make pedestrian safety better," she said.

But local groups must take the lead role in their own community, and reach out to Safe Kids Canada to receive resources or other forms of support.

Ms. Boxell said a group can contact the national organization with information on a particular pedestrian concern, their findings and their efforts, and Safe Kids Canada can provide a letter supporting the group's effort, or training, information and documents to help improve pedestrian safety.

For more information: www.sickkids.ca/safekidscanada or http://governorsroad.blogspot.com.

http://www.dundasstarnews.com/news/article/126715

walk about

2008-04-17T11:08:00.000-07:00

Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) will be holding a community "Walk-About" on Governor's Road, Thursday, May 29, 2008.

Meet participants including city traffic staff, public health, politicians, parents and children at 3:15 at Governor's Road outside St Bernadette's school.

This event will bring to light some of the traffic safety issues effecting pedestrians and cyclists on this road. A de-brief at the end will bring together recommendations to enhance the area for walkers and cyclists, including the many children and young adults attending the three schools in the immediate area.

TLC received a grant from Safe Kids Canada to bring about this event as part of Safe Kids Week 2008.

Come out if you are interested in making this area safe for all!

lights? camera? action?

2008-02-03T14:33:00.000-08:00

Well, we will get the flashing lights, but will we get effective enforcement? or what about effective results? Was a baseline speed study conducted so we can have verifiable results that would assist in determing effectiveness? Or is this flashing light a political response to an engineering issue?

The newly installed lights and signs pictured here are at the eastern perimeter of the school zone on Governor's Road, at Huntingwood Dr.

half way busing

2008-01-16T06:01:00.000-08:00

"a high school student in the public board has to live 3.2 km from school to qualify for busing. In the Catholic board, that distance is 1.6 km"

That's an interesting stat; 1.6 km is not very far to walk. Joint busing is one of the strategies for Governor's Road, but it looks as though this, and many of the ideas to improve traffic, are still a long ways from becoming reality.

Talks stalled on joint school busing policy

Rob Faulkner, The Hamilton Spectator, (Jan 16, 2008)

Talks between Hamilton's public and Catholic board chairs are still stalled over the touchy business of forming a joint agency for busing city students.

Public board chair Judith Bishop said talks haven't gone anywhere on combining Catholic and public bus routes, a plan she says would save taxpayers money.

She said Hamilton is one of only three Ontario school districts without joint busing -- and she says it boils down to the Catholic board using generous busing to draw students, and thus funding, to its schools.

For example, a high school student in the public board has to live 3.2 km from school to quality for busing. In the Catholic board, that distance is 1.6 km.

"The Hamilton-Wentworth District School Board believes in one bus, one policy, one route, and we haven't got anywhere," Bishop said.

"There's a difference in philosophy."

The province wants public and Catholic boards across Ontario to form joint entities to save costs by sharing bus routes and using good routing and management practices.

The Halton public and Catholic school boards this week launched a joint consortium -- not controlled by or located at either board -- with 372 vehicles to transport 25,000 kids to school.

General manager Karen Lacroix said Halton has, since 1996, had joint busing in its public, Catholic and French Catholic boards, predating recent provincial instructions that boards bus together.

This week they launched a new consortium with all four Halton boards -- public, Catholic and two French boards -- with a separate office, phone number and focus on zones, not board districts.

"Any amalgamation has its issues, but the fact that three boards had an integrated transportation service for so many years... made (it) easier than for boards that hadn't been sharing services," Lacroix said.

In Hamilton, no such progress. Bishop said without universal standards for busing, boards differ in their policies. She feels the Hamilton Catholic board is unwilling to give up its generous busing policies, in the interests of saving taxpayer money.

But Hamilton Catholic school board chair Pat Daly denies the stumbling block is about the distance at which students are bused. He says talks never reached that level of detail.

He said it's about governance.

"Just in terms of autonomy and control over policy, that's one of the issues," said Daly. He said he hopes it doesn't come to focus on details like busing distances. "It's important to note that, while we don't have the full consortia in place, we have been co-operating for years (in Flamborough)."

Daly said his board has one of the most efficient bus systems in Ontario and doesn't want to jeopardize that in a joint effort that may not bring savings.

At a provincial level, Catholic trustees have raised concern that a one-policy model may risk Catholic autonomy.

In Halton, however, Lacroix said that the boards have begun to lease a neutral office location and since 1996 have been realizing more than $1 million in annual savings from joint busing.

rfaulkner@thespec.com

905-526-2468

from 50 to 40 in a flash?

2008-01-11T11:30:00.000-08:00

Craig Campbell and the Dundas Star continue to provide excellent follow-up reportage on local traffic issues.

Governor's Road awaits safety improvements
Group calls for further safety improvements
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News, Published on Jan 11, 2008

Long discussed improvements to Governor's Road traffic control should be on their way, as city staff prepare to install a new reduced speed zone along a three school stretch of the road. City of Hamilton traffic technologist Sue Russell couldn't say when the system would be operational, as there may be some bugs to work out.

"It's new equipment and a new program. There could be some unforeseen problems, as with any new product," Ms. Russell said. "I don't want to make any promises I can't keep."

The reduced speed school zone was approved by city council in April 2007. One of eight such school zones across the city, the Governor's Road zone will stretch from Moss Boulevard to 75 metres east of Huntingwood.

Flashing lights will warn drivers the regular 50 km/h speed drops to 40 km/h during morning, mid-day and afternoon rush hours.

The flashing light speed zone will be in effect for just over five hours each day, between 7:50 a.m. and 4 p.m. The part-time school zone was anticipated to be in place by September 2007, when the new Sir William Osler School was scheduled to open. Delays in the school's completion coincided with an apparent delay in receiving equipment from a supplier.

Osler School opened in November 2007 without the school speed zone in place. Ms. Russell said this week an expected start date for the new system is not set. She said staff will need training before the equipment is installed.

The idea of a school speed zone, along with a roundabout on Governor's Road, was raised while former councillor Art Samson represented Dundas. Mr. Samson wanted to see safety improvements made to the less than one kilometre stretch of road that includes St. Bernadette Catholic Elementary School, Highland Secondary School, and Sir William Osler Elementary.

Start times for the schools range from 8:15 a.m. at Highland, to 9 a.m. at St. Bernadette to 9:10 a.m. at Osler.

When the reduced speed zone is operational, it is planned to be in use from 7:50 a.m. to 9:10 a.m., then from 10:59 a.m. to 1:45 p.m., and finally from 2:45 to 4 p.m.

The new elementary school's morning bell time coincides exactly with the end of the morning reduced speed, at which time it will return to 50 km/h from 40 km/h.

Ron Gallo of the city's traffic department said a consultant will be hired to conduct an environmental assessment of a roundabout in area of Governor's Road and Davidson Boulevard.

Mr. Gallo said the budget is in place and he hopes the assessment will be completed in 2008, allowing the design to be done in the first quarter of 2009 and construction by the end of next year.

"That's a best case scenario for me," Mr. Gallo said, noting he'd been involved in discussions about a Governor's Road roundabout for more than two years, and would like to see it done.

Transportation for Liveable Communities sent an e-mail this week to all members of Hamilton's city council, supporting a new reduced speed zone and a roundabout at Davidson Boulevard, along with several other recommendations.

The local pedestrian, cyclist and transit interest group also called for a comprehensive traffic audit of Governor's Road --with results released to the public -- additional school crossing guards, and improved public transit service on Governor's Road. Among the changes supported by TLC are new traffic calming measures - in particular bicycle lanes that were proposed in the city's May 2007 Cycling Network Strategy.

TLC for Governor's Road

2008-01-07T16:50:00.000-08:00

Local sustainable transportation activists at Transportation for Liveable Communities have sent a letter to Ward 13/Dundas Councillor Russ Powers regarding Governor's Road - the following is lifted from their letter, dealing with specifics of the suggestions put forward by Powers: for the full letter, go to the TLC site here.

Councillor Powers	Transportation for Liveable Communities
Add an advanced left turn signal to the traffic lights at the Governors Road/Creighton Road intersection for eastbound/westbound traffic along Governors Road.	Await result of traffic audit to determine need Immediately change the walk/don't walk signal at Creighton to always go to "walk" on the green signal – currently the "walk" signal only appears after a pedestrian has activated the crossing button. The default is "don't walk" which creates confusion for all users by prioritizing cars over pedestrians, and makes crossing more uncertain, thus more dangerous.
Widen Governors Road to accommodate an identified left turn/holding lane from Creighton Road to at least Davidson Boulevard.	Adding an extra lane makes crossings for pedestrians more difficult and dangerous by increasing crossing distance and adding an extra lane of traffic to contend with. Road widening also contributes to a driving environment that induces speed. Therefore TLC strongly opposes a general widening, but supports limited , site specific widening to create turning lanes if required at St. Bernadette's school, and Highland Secondary school.
Install traffic lights or a roundabout (includes a pedestrian-activated crossing signal) at Davidson Boulevard.	A roundabout is the preferred option for safety and efficiency reasons, which TLC fully supports.
Install a pedestrian-activated crossing signal at the corner of Governors Road/Huntingwood Drive.	TLC supports this as a possible solution, but only in a context of accompanying traffic calming measures such as (but not limited to) a raised crosswalk and a median island. An alternative solution might include another roundabout at this location in the long term.
Post school crossing guards at the Huntingwood, Castlewood/Bridlewood and Davidson pedestrian crossings.	TLC supports
Extend the sidewalk on the north side of Governors Road from Davidson Boulevard to Pirie Drive.	TLC supports
Install a flashing "Speed Reduced to 40 kph" for the area bounded by the east/west boundaries of the three schools. This is programmed to be activated during morning and late afternoon/evening rush hours.	Evidence suggests that signs are not enough to influence driver behaviour, thus TLC supports physical traffic calming measures to slow traffic speeds: examples include lane narrowing, bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, a traffic median, to enhance safety in the school zone.
Continue to lobby for a crossing guard at the Governors Road/Bridlewood /Castlewood Drive intersection.	TLC supports
Conduct a comprehensive traffic audit to identify contributing factors.	TLC supports, and requests a copy of the final report
Enhance public transit frequency along Governors Road during rush hours on weekdays.	TLC supports, with the following considerations: there is currently no bus service provided on Governor's Road on weekends – adding rush hour buses to alleviate traffic fails to address the demand for transit mobility for residents on weekends. TLC requests weekend bus service for Governor's Road. Current levels of transit service are poor in the entire ward, with one hour wait times much of the day on both Governors, and King..TLC therefore requests a comprehensive review of transit operations in Dundas with the goal of improving the level of service.
Review signal synchronization for eastbound/westbound traffic at Main Street, Oglivie Street and Creighton Road.	TLC supports synchronization that discourages speeding and takes into account the requirements of pedestrians for prompt crossing service.

For all the points noted, TLC requests a full update from the councillor/city of Hamilton on actions taken or decisions made.

Further: since our original letter, the Transportation Master Plan for the city has been approved by council – in that document there are plans specific to the area in question, but not addressed in councillor Powers' initial list of proposed solutions. The TMP refers to bike lanes for Governor's Road "Dundas Street-Governor's Road [from] Cootes Drive [to] Castlewood Blvd BL [2.9km at a cost of $166,750, to be done in the Medium term (http://www.myhamilton.ca/NR/rdonlyres/1ECE9040-72DC-432B-B480-163B810363C0/0/3CyclingNetworkStrategy.pdf ).

Therefore, TLC strongly recommends action on bike lanes be fully integrated with any road work to be done on Governor's Road. Bike lanes would assist in creating safer and more pleasant conditions for pedestrians and help improve the roadside atmosphere while giving more options to sustainable transportation users.

In conclusion, TLC would like to reiterate that users of Governor's Road include cyclists, pedestrians, transit and drivers. The current city wide transportation master plan, and the city's Vision 2020 planning documents all emphasize supporting sustainable modes of transportation. As a result, TLC expects any changes on Governor's Road to reflect this emphasis.

-30-

We'll keep in ear to the ground to see what is in store, and post it here.

new school, same road

2007-11-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

The Sir William Osler elementary school opened to students today. 640 of them.

No changes to the roadway environment as of yet.

No word on when, or for that matter even if, any changes to improve safety will occur.

Time to start digging...

Here's news from the daily:

A new chapter for students

Rob Faulkner, The Hamilton Spectator

Sir William Osler school offers escarpment views, latest technology

DUNDAS (Nov 13, 2007)
The location was debated for years. Labour spats delayed it for months. But today, Sir William Osler Elementary School will open for Dundas students.

The two-storey school on a steep site on Governor's Road was a buzz of activity yesterday, as staff unpacked boxes, families with jogger strollers took tours, and principal Maria Rowles played hostess in a long-awaited new home.

"We have 640 students. Not only did their moms and dad come, their grandparents came," said Rowles, estimating 1,000 visitors toured the school. The school is named for William Osler, a celebrated physician raised in Dundas.

Its opening was delayed by provincial labour disputes, which kept students in old schools to which they'd already bid farewell. It also created the challenge of moving a school during the year.

"It's a challenge because we're operating the same staff in two sites."

Osler is designed on a template, so it's similar to other new public schools Ray Lewis, Gatestone, Ancaster Meadow and new Lawfield elementary, which opens Monday on the Mountain.

Until now, kids planning to attend Lawfield were at Vern Ames (junior kindergarten to Grade 5) and Seneca (grades 6 to 8). Kids attending Osler were at Central Park (junior kindergarten to Grade 4) and Dundas District (grades 5 to 8), and Dundana students had been at either of the two feeders.

Parent Brian Peirce said his two kids would've liked to finish the school year at Central Park and Dundas District, rather than move to Osler mid-year. He adds the new school is "beautiful" on a site that had been a rolling, sparsely wooded area with soccer fields.

"It's been long, but it's here," said parent Eva Fisher, who thinks Osler's 9:10 a.m. start will create traffic chaos because it's too close to bell times at Highland secondary and St. Bernadette Catholic elementary, both on the same side of Governor's Road as Osler.

A parent survey narrowly chose the 9:10 a.m. start time at Osler. Rowles said parents were split: those with young kids worried an early start would be hard to accomplish, while parents of upper-year kids wanted an early start to leave time for after-school activities.

The school is a piece of work: extra-wide lockers to share; light streaming in from floor-to-ceiling windows; learning "pods" outside classrooms; a gym some colleges would dream of.

Richard Francki, senior manager of facilities, said the $10-million school lets the board close two others, so it saves on energy, transportation and staffing.

With room for 667 students, it doesn't yet have portables. New schools also avoid lead paint, asbestos, and hot summer days without air-conditioning, which make school less appealing.

And with stunning views of the Escarpment and rolling yards that made stormwater diversion crucial, it looks like tobogganing is a real possibly.

Dundas trustee Jessica Brennan said one argument in favour of using the proposed Veterans Park site was that it was flatter, so grading wouldn't add to the cost. Still, she said she was thrilled to finally open the doors.

Rowles, who is proud of the school's escarpment views, notes she has also been able to buy 21st century tools for the new building. It has nine SMART Boards and nine other screens that function like an interactive digital update on the classic chalkboard.

See a slide show presentation of the new Sir William Osler Elementary School.
For more go to thespec.com

From Councillor's Web Site

2007-06-25T18:47:00.000-07:00

I found this on the ward councillor's web site:

"Governor's Road Concerns

Governor's Road from Main Street, westbound to Ogilvie Street:

1. Widen two bridges crossing Spencer Creek and intersection at Governors Road/Oglivie Street to accommodate one additional lane (use to be determined).
2. Add a 4 way, advanced left turn signal to the traffic lights at the Governors Road/Oglivie Street intersection.

Governor's Road from Ogilvie Street, westbound to Creighton Road:

1. Currently there are two westbound and one eastbound lanes on Governors Road...identify the middle lane as an additional eastbound lane during the morning rush hour and an additional westbound lane during the late afternoon/evening rush hour.
2. Investigate the possible need for traffic lights or a pedestrian-activated crosswalk at the Governors Road/Overfield Street intersection.

Governor's Road from Creighton Road, westbound to Pirie/Wainwright Drive:

1. Add an advanced left turn signal to the traffic lights at the Governors Road/Creighton Road intersection for eastbound/westbound traffic along Governors Road.
2. Widen Governors Road to accommodate an identified left turn/holding lane from Creighton Road to at least Davidson Boulevard.
3. Install traffic lights or a roundabout (includes a pedestrian-activated crossing signal) at Davidson Boulevard.
4. Install a pedestrian-activated crossing signal at the corner of Governors Road/Huntingwood Drive.
5. Post school crossing guards at the Huntingwood, Castlewood/Bridlewood and Davidson pedestrian crossings.
6. Extend the sidewalk on the north side of Governors Road from Davidson Boulevard to Pirie Drive.
7. Install a flashing “Speed Reduced to 40 kph” for the area bounded by the east/west boundaries of the three schools. This is programmed to be activated during morning and late afternoon/evening rush hours.
8. Continue to lobby for a crossing guard at the Governors Road/Bridlewood /Castlewood Drive intersection.

General:

1. Conduct a comprehensive traffic audit to identify contributing factors.
2. Enhance public transit frequency along Governors Road during rush hours on weekdays.
3. Review signal synchronization for eastbound/westbound traffic at Main Street, Oglivie Street and Creighton Road.
4. Perhaps the school boards could review their starting/finishing times to reduce pedestrian traffic during rush hour (maybe stagger the starting/finishing times amongst the three schools to lessen the focused impact time slot).
5. Perhaps the School Boards should rationalize their individual busing services and possibly consider merging into a single provider…this may actually reduce the number of buses on the road with a corresponding reduction in operating costs.. "

[end of quoted text]

OK, some nifty ideas, but the overall thrust is dealing with automotive traffic efficiency, and very little to address pedestrians and cyclists concerns.

While most of the above ideas are acceptable, there are a couple of big bad ideas that stand out - like number 2 under" Governor's Road from Creighton Road, westbound to Pirie/Wainwright Drive:" widening Governor's Road?! Perhaps middle turn lanes at school entrances, but the entire length of Governor's? This type of engineering would induce traffic speeds and make the crossing wider for pedestrians.

Besides, there is no mention of bicycle lanes, although the city's transportation master plan has Governor's Road marked for them along the entire stretch. There's not a lot of room for widening, so the extra traffic lane would likely be at the expense of cycling lanes. Rather than traffic calming by lane narrowing and providing a buffer between cars and pedestrians by providing space for cyclists, road widening just makes it more dangerous for every user.

While this is about a kilometer west of the area we have been dealing with, the bridge widenings at Ogilvie and Governors fail to mention the need for wider sidewalks, the current sidewalks are horribly narrow on Governors, and only on one side of Ogilvie.

And why aren't we talking about traffic calming here? Think boldly: eliminate one bridge (on Ogilvie, north of Governors) and open Spencer creek to view (currently encumbered with bridges and sewer pipes): it would certainly make the intersection more beautiful, not to mention safer (drivers have alternative options a half block away at Main.)

As far as increased transit, there is a need for transit on weekends (there is currently no weekend service, meaning the nearest bus stop on weekends is at least one kilometer away, more like three for others on this route.)

So clearly there is room for improvement on this list of suggestions. I don't know how or when the list got made, but there it is. I certainly wasn't consulted, as the councillor suggested in a previous newspaper column, nor to my knowledge was Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) approached, though they sent a letter on the topic to the councillor December 2006.

Roundabout

2007-04-01T07:31:00.000-07:00

Watch a live cam of the Ancaster Traffic Circle (in the city of Hamilton) - a similar roundabout is proposed for Governors Road at Huntingwood, which would be an effective way to calm traffic.

I'm fairly certain that the city has budgeted some money to bring this into reality.

It's "new" so it will likely frighten people at first, but it is actually safer in terms of lower collision rates, etc. than other intersection types.

Lay of the land

2007-03-31T10:32:00.000-07:00

A view of Governors Road at the start of the eastern section that this web site is concerned with. Looking west from Creighton (the signalized intersection in the photo, above) the three schools are on the left (or south) side of the street in this order (starting at the crest of the hill): St. Bernadettes Elementary, Highland Secondary, and the new school, now named Sir William Osler elementary.

Governors is a straight road in this section which does little to deter speeding, with pedestrian crossings aproximately one kilometer apart (here, at Creighton) and at the next signalized intersection at Castlewood (below, viewed facing the site of the new school):

Another view, this time looking east down Governors from Castlewood (photo taken from the crosswalk):

I include this photo (below) of an intersection in between the two signalized intersections to show the kind of engineering that is pro-car at the expense of pedestrians. The rounded corner makes it easy for high speed turns, whereas pedestrians have a wider span to cross (in the path of those fast cornering vehicles) - this kind of engineering should be altered to become more of a "corner" rather than an "off-ramp."

Check back for updates as we continue to monitor the situation.

LITTLE BIT, WEST

2007-03-08T19:21:00.000-08:00

A little bit west of Dundas, in Westdale, there have been a few minor traffic calming elements installed. This is one of them, a little traffic island on Forsyth. This is the kind of thing (pretty much) we're looking for on Governor's. (Better if it were a raised median though). Well done Ward One! More from that ward later...

Paper Powers

2007-01-28T06:57:00.000-08:00

It's not much information, but the following appeared in this week's Dundas Star News, in Councillor Russ Powers' monthly column:

Any users of Governor's Road are well aware of the sometime challenges of that route. This year, a detailed study of all aspects of this transportation link will be conducted. Your participation will be solicited and very much appreciated as the decisions reached will determine how things are improved.

Users of Governor's Road include cyclists, pedestrians, transit and drivers. The current city wide transportation master plan, and the city's Vision 2020 planning documents talk about supporting sustainable modes of transportation. How hard will it be to see that Governor's Road gets the "balanced" approach so desperately required to make it a safe road for all users?

Letter for Liveable Community

2007-01-19T16:40:00.000-08:00

PO Box 19, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton ON L8S 1C0
tlchamilton.blogspot.com
g-tlc@mcmaster.ca
905-525-9140 ext. 26026

Monday, December 18, 2006

Dear Councillor Powers,

Transportation for Liveable Communities (TLC) is a working group of the Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) McMaster. TLC works to achieve balanced sustainable transportation solutions in the city of Hamilton.

We are writing to draw attention to the traffic situation on Governor’s Road in Dundas.

With the new Dundas West elementary school under construction on Governors Road at Bridlewood, there will be three schools (including Highland Secondary School and St. Bernadette’s elementary school) on this short stretch of highway (less than 1km).

The statement of a problem can make all the difference when seeking solutions. TLC is concerned that a solution you offered on your web site during the recent election campaign begins with the assumption that “traffic flow” is the problem on Governor’s Road, and offers road widening as a solution.

TLC feels that this is the wrong assumption and a desperately wrong conclusion.

The problem, as we see it, is traffic flows all too well the majority of the time on Governor’s, and that the speed of that flow puts school children and other pedestrians, cyclists and drivers at risk.

As you are likely aware there is a direct correlation between traffic speed and pedestrian fatalities:

Fig. 1 U.K. Department of Transportation, 1987. Killing Speed and Saving Lives, London, UK DOT.

Generally the only time traffic slows down on Governors is during “rush” hours, when the presence of too many single occupancy vehicles all going in the same direction at the same time creates a situation that is, from a pedestrian and cycling point of view, actually safer in terms of collision impacts. We should be aiming for a 30km/h maximum speed limit in the school zone.

TLC would thus prefer to pose the question: “what measures can be employed to create a safe and healthy environment for children using active methods of getting to school (i.e. cycling, walking) and to engineer a safer roadside environment for area residents outside of school hours?”

The City of Hamilton’s Public Health department recognizes the need for safe routes to school:

“Concerns about health and pedestrian safety among our children and air quality issues are prompting us to rethink the way we choose to get around in our communities,” said Sue Connell, Public Health Nurse with the City of Hamilton. “Obesity and inactivity in young children are reaching unprecedented levels and are creating serious health problems in our children. Vehicle transportation contributes to air pollution and smog and our children are especially vulnerable to the impacts of poor air quality. Many of the school zones in the Hamilton area are unsafe because of traffic concerns because large numbers of children are being transported to and from school. By walking to school with their parents or caregivers, children have an excellent opportunity to learn and develop their pedestrian skills.”

SOURCE: http://www.myhamilton.ca/myhamilton/cityandgovernment/

newsandpublications/newsreleases/ 2005news/september/05-09-30.htm

Road widening would only allow for increased vehicle speeds and make crossings more dangerous than the current situation, and run counter to the goals of the Transportation Master Plan currently under consideration by the city, and the goals outlined in Vision 2020:

To develop an integrated sustainable transportation system for people, goods and services which is environmentally friendly, affordable, efficient, convenient, safe and accessible.
To encourage a shift in personal lifestyle and behaviour towards transportation choices that enhance personal health and fitness, save money, and have the lowest environmental cost.

It is imperative that we get the necessary improvements in place as opportunity presents itself. And it is important that proper engineering is applied to ensure safe outcomes.

When slowing or ‘calming’ traffic, the right design invites the right driver response. The guiding principle of traffic calming is to influence motorist speeds and behavior through good design whenever possible, rather than by traffic control measures such as traffic signals and STOP signs.

There are many design and engineering tools that can be used to slow down traffic and make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to school including;
Narrow lanes
Chokers and chicanes
Speed humps
Raised pedestrian crosswalks
Neighborhood traffic circles
Reduced corner radiiSpeed sensitive signals
Source: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/guide/engineering/slowing_down_traffic.cfm

Proper consideration must be given to effective traffic calming design if we are to be supportive of active modes of transportation like walking and cycling. Lane narrowing, the addition of bicycle lanes, wider sidewalks, a traffic median, a pedestrian crossing are all potential treatments that could enhance the safety of the school zone.

Surely the concentration of schools on this dangerous roadway makes safety considerations a priority for the city to address in a timely fashion.

TLC is happy to assist by being part of a public process that effectively deals with the worthy goals of providing safe and active routes to school, and improved cycling and walking facilities for area residents.

TLC would appreciate your prompt response and an outline/timeline of the next steps you intend to take.

We look forward to hearing from you in the near future.

Randy Kay

For Transportation for Liveable Communities

1812 military road

2006-12-22T08:29:00.000-08:00

One need not search long to find reference to August 8, 1812, "General Brock marched through the valley, and out the Governor’s Road with forty regulars and 260 militia men....After picking up sixty Indians at the Mohawk Village" they went on to capture Detroit a few days later, a key victory for the vastly outnumbered force. (Woodhouse, T. Roy. Dundas Historical Society, The History of the Town of Dundas, Part 1, p23)
"Following their defeat by the Americans at the Battle of Moraviantown near the Thames River, the British and allied warriors of 1813 under the Shawnee Chief Tecumseh (who died in this battle) travelled east to the Grand River by trail and onto Lake Ontario via the Dundas portage, ultimately camping at the ‘fine large sandy bay’ at Burlington Bay." (Henderson, Bob, Every Trail Has A Story, p84)

Distance Map

2006-12-16T19:41:00.000-08:00

According to my mapquest data, (after finding the km button, rather than the miles) we can see that the stretch of road this blog is primarily concerned with is less than 1 kilometre in length. But an important .7km given the location of three schools (two primary and one secondary school) along this corridor.

PETITION

2006-12-15T16:21:00.000-08:00

Hi - you can print off a legal size pdf version of the new Governor's Road Safety Petition by following the link. The text of the petition is copied below:

Whereas new elementary school construction on Governors Road will result in more children crossing or walking adjacent to Governors Road, and,

Whereas upon completion of the new school there will be two elementary schools and one high school on this short stretch of road, and,

Whereas children should have safe and active routes to school in order to gain emotional and physical benefits of a healthy lifestyle, and,

Whereas there is no pedestrian crossing point between Bridlewood and Creighton, and,

Whereas there is a direct relationship between vehicle speed and pedestrian fatality, and,

Whereas an engineered traffic calming solution is preferable and more effective than signs or flashing lights, and,

Whereas a city Transportation Master Plan study identifies Governors Road between Creighton and Bridlewood as a suitable location for bicycle lanes, and,

Whereas Governors Road is a historical roadway, being the first non aboriginal road constructed in Upper Canada,

We (the undersigned) request that the City of Hamilton take immediate steps to ensure safe driving, cycling and walking conditions on Governor’s Road, between Creighton and Bridlewood above and beyond posted crossing guards, flashing lights and signed school zone by,

instituting physical traffic calming measures to effectively reduce the incidence of speeding vehicles i.e traffic medians, narrow lanes, roundabouts, as deemed appropriate to calm traffic
initiate an Environmental Assessment process if required to make changes to the roadway in keeping with traffic calming goals
install proper bicycle lane facilities and wide sidewalks to encourage active and safe routes to school
create a pedestrian crossing at or near Governors and Huntingwood
plant native vegetation on both sides of Governors Road where feasible to help create a comfortable pedestrian environment
install an attractive gateway feature that pays homage to the historical significance of the road and alerts drivers to the school zone

The Hollingsworth Thread

2006-11-23T12:59:00.000-08:00

Sorry to take so long to get back to you on this. The following is the most up to date information I could get for your questions:

1.We understand that as a condition of development approval, the School Board will be required to construct a westbound left turn lane on Governors Road for the access into the School site.

2. We understand that the City included the Class EA Study for the feasibility of constructing a roundabout at Governors and Davidson into the 2007 Work Plan.

3. The implementation of the bicycle lanes on Governors Road, as proposed in the City Wide Transportation Master Plan (TMP), will be considered in all future work. However, since the TMP has not been approved yet by Council, bike lanes cannot be installed as part of the current work.

Hopefully this answers your questions. If you have any other questions, please do not hesitate to call or e-mail.

Brian Hollingworth
Associate Director
IBI Group
230 Richmond Street W, 5th Fl.
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1V6
Tel: 416-596-1930 ext. 414
Fax: 416-596-0644

-----Original Message-----
From: randy opirg [mailto:randy@opirg.org]
Sent: November 2, 2006 4:02 PM
To: bholling@ibigroup.com
Subject: Re: Governors Road

I appreciate the note Brian - I was about to give up hope! The particular section of Governors Road I am referring to is essentially west from Creighton. The PIC/GRIDS maps showed a blue line which indicated bicycle improvements.

Thanks for your time on this,

Randy

----- Original Message -----
From: Brian Hollingworth

To: randy opirg

Sent: Thursday, November 02, 2006 2:48 PM

Subject: RE: Governors Road

Just to let you know we have not forgotten your question. I am trying to get more information on the current proposal you are referring to.

Thanks you for your inquiry.

Brian Hollingworth
Associate Director
IBI Group
230 Richmond Street W, 5th Fl.
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 1V6
Tel: 416-596-1930 ext. 414
Fax: 416-596-0644

-----Original Message-----
From: randy opirg [mailto:randy@opirg.org]
Sent: October 13, 2006 1:39 PM
To: bhollingworth@ibigroup.com; htanguay@hamilton.ca
Subject: Governors Road

Hello Hélène and Brian - I attended to PIC for the transportation plan and like the general direction it is going.

When it comes to specifics I have a question in relation to Governor's Road in Dundas - the material I saw showed that there was to be improvements to cycling - either bike lanes, paved shoulder or something. My question is: will these improvements be integrated with the very current work that is being proposed for this stretch of road: I am referring to the Dundas West School and the proposed roundabout (and other traffic calming measures).

This would seem to offer an opportunity to make changes that would enhance the safety of students using the schools, while advancing the TMP goals.

Your thoughts would be appreciated,

Randy Kay

249 Governor's Road,

Dundas ON

Contact Catch Up

2006-11-07T17:16:00.000-08:00

I spoke with both Kathryn Starodub, Principal of Highland Secondary and Sherri Michell of the Highland Parents Association on Monday October 23, 2006 about Governor's Road.

Kathryn informed me that

they had the HSR bus stop across the road from the school moved to the nearby signalized intersection at Bridlewood. Before the move, the location of the stop encouraged students to cross with no infrastructure.
She thought flashing lights indicating school zone would be helpful.
She indicated that a turning lane at Highland would help relieve traffic tie-ups
she felt the timing of the stoplights at Bridlewood/Castlewood and Governors needed to increase the turning times for cars coming onto Governors.
The student hit by a car on Governors is back at school and making a great recovery

Sherri emphasised education for drivers, including parents and residents, to remind them to slow down in the vicinity of the school. She questioned the utility of the roundabout, thinking it was too far from the school zone.

OUTSTANDING:

My October 6/06 e-mail and follow up e-mail October 20 still awaits replies from City Staff including: Ed Switenky eswitenk@hamilton.ca, Acting Manager, Traffic Engineering and Operations; Hart Solomon hsolomon@hamilton.ca; Ron Gallo rgallo@hamilton.ca, Supervisor of Signals and Systems, Public Works; and, Rodney Aitchison raitchis@hamilton.ca

Brian Hollingsworth e-mailed to say he was going to provide some info regarding the GRIDS plan for bicycle infrastructure on Governors west of Creighton.

coasting

2006-10-24T18:28:00.000-07:00

Still waiting for return calls/e-mails from city staff.

I have some updates on converstations with folks from Highland Secondary School, which I will post soon, as well as some new photos of the roadway.

I think rather than try and make all the suggestions about what needs to happen, I will coast a bit (like these local cyclists on Governors) while waiting to hear from city staff about what they think will make things safer for kids on this stretch of road.

Shouldn't that be their job? (and why we need to make sure it happens?)

one minute map

2006-10-23T13:15:00.000-07:00

The key stretch of road linking three schools is, according to mapquest, less than a one minute drive.
When we think in terms of slowing traffic through this school zone, we should keep in mind the trade off between speed and safety.
Slowing things a little can mean a lot for children and others crossing this road.

contact 3

2006-10-23T10:50:00.000-07:00

Phone tag finally concluded today between St. Bernadette's principal and I: point form notes:

large percentage "about 90%" of children are bussed to the school
only a few students walk
they use the crossing guard at Creighton/Governors
it would be useful to have a pedestrian activated signal/crossing between Highland School and St. Bernadettes (there is a long stretch with no crossings between Bridlewood and Creighton)
she hasn't spoken to the city about traffic - her concern "is in our driveway, not a lot of our kids go beyond the driveway.")

Other contact - I left another voice mail for the principal at Highland seeking info about their plans, and for a contact number for the Parent's Council.

Councillor Samson's office replied to my prompt for a response from city staff about my earlier questions, so I expect something in the near future.

front page

2006-10-21T20:06:00.000-07:00

School safety, closures will top new councillor agenda: Samson
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News (Oct 20, 2006)

Two key issues that will face Dundas' new city councillor after the Nov. 13 municipal election are safety on Governor's Road and the role of community councils.

....

This week, outgoing councillor Art Samson suggested to the Dundas Star News that dealing with Governor's Road traffic and safety, doing a better job getting public input on two upcoming school closures and the ongoing Dundas Driving Park master plan are three key issues that will affect the community over the next few years.

Mr. Samson said he has started the ball rolling for a review of crossing guards near a new school planned for Governor's Road, an environmental assessment for a possible roundabout at Davidson Boulevard or Pirie Drive and a study for a possible school speed zone. But if any of those things actually succeed, it will have to happen during the next councillor's term.

And all four candidates say they've heard about it from residents.

Peggy Chapman believes badly planned housing development around Governor's Road is to blame.

And Davidson Boulevard as the only way out of a large neighbourhood causes traffic problems.

"If we're going to build, let's grow smart. I'm big on smart development," Ms. Chapman said. "Maybe there could be another artery or road out of there." [um, roads are the problem, not the solution here]

Ms. Chapman said local residents aren't getting much help from city hall, but she thinks bad development in the area can still be stopped.

"Let's not make mistakes if we don't have to. Let's build it smart," she said.

Keith Sharp said a pedestrian-controlled stoplight has been suggested for a Governor's Road crossing, but he thinks that would just cause more problems.

"There's no easy solution," Mr. Sharp said. "The traffic specialists need to look at it." [yes, and talk to the community about it so we don't get left out of the decision-making process]

Russ Powers said while he was on city council prior to his federal stint, he submitted a plan for improvements to Governor's Road.

"It's my intention to continue to press for that," Mr. Powers said. [Are we supposed to know his plans? I just sent an e-mail to his campaign asking to see what he is proposing ]

Julia Kollek said she asked city staff about building a covered pedestrian bridge that would carry students across Governor's Road and into the new elementary school.

She was told that would cost about $300,000, but Ms. Kollek thinks a cost-benefit analysis - comparing the bridge to the cost to bus hundreds of students for years - should be done before discounting the idea. [human nature - people won't use it, they'll find the shortest most direct route - slow traffic first with some proper engineering moves]

Ms. Kollek also suggested shuttle buses could be used to carry students from specific drop-off points, eliminating some parent's cars from the busy thoroughfare. [how about improved transit routing and bus passes for students?]

....

Contact 2

2006-10-19T09:34:00.000-07:00

Had a phone chat with Public School Trustee Jessica Brennan - she explained the process regarding transportation i.e.

the board had to submit a transportation study to the city for approval - the city has that now. [I will try and get info about this]
according to the board project manager for the Dundas West School, the person at the city they are working with is Ken D'Andre, Business Facilitator. After speaking with him today on the phone, it seems most of the planning is focused on the intersection of Governors and Bridlewood, and not likely to include traffic calming elsewhere on the road. More on that later. I've got a call in to Tanya McKenna to find out more. Ken also told me that city staff in the Urban Design Section would be the ones working on safe pedestrian routes, so that should be interesting to find out about)
So far the board and the local councillor have agreed on flashing lights (see earlier post on concerns about effectiveness) for the school zone.
As far as information about the new school, there is currently nothing on the web about it, they are behind schedule to have a web site due to turn-around in staff at the board.

Thanks Jessica for the prompt replies!

No truck is a (traffic) island?

2006-10-18T14:49:00.000-07:00

An experiment? Traffic flow was slowed by the presence of this work vehicle parked on the centre line of Governors Road (just west of Creighton) for several hours - the physical presence of the truck (and the warning signage) forced vehicles to proceed carefully. This same result could be achieved with a traffic median/island at this location as part of traffic calming measures to create safer pedestrian/cycling environments east of the school zone.

All flash, no action?

2006-10-17T12:55:00.000-07:00

Because of this:

National Survey Reveals Nearly Two-Thirds of Drivers Speed in School Zones, Suggesting Neglect of Child Pedestrians Community Wide
(October 4, 2000) — According to a national survey released today by the National SAFE KIDS Campaign, the majority of motor vehicles in school zones exceed the speed limit. The prevalence of speeding around schools, where safety measures exist, suggests that drivers are even more neglectful in residential areas.
(Source: USA Safe Kids)

We need to consider this:

When slowing or ‘calming’ traffic, the right design invites the right driver response. The guiding principle of traffic calming is to influence motorist speeds and behavior through good design whenever possible, rather than by traffic control measures such as traffic signals and STOP signs.

There are many design and engineering tools that can be used to slow down traffic and make it safer for children to walk and bicycle to school including:

Narrow lanes
Chokers and chicanes
Speed humps
Raised pedestrian crosswalks
Neighborhood traffic circles
Reduced corner radii
Speed sensitive signals

(Source: SRTS)

because of this:

Let's not be distracted by flashing lights as a full response to safety for people walking and cycling to school. A further consideration: safety should transcend school hours to create full time security for residents of the area.

Contact

2006-10-16T14:07:00.000-07:00

Trying to get the lay of the land I've contacted representatives of several institutions who should/do have an interest in safety along Governor's Road.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 13 I left messages for

The prinicipal at St. Bernadettes
Highland Secondary (looking for the Highland Parents Council)
City Traffic's Ron Gallo (Director of signals)
Jessica Brennan (Public School Trustee)
Helene Tanguay and Brian Hollingsworth who are staff/consultants on the city's Transportation master plan.

RESPONSE:

Jessica Brennan e-mailed back and left her phone number to discuss this issue (playing phone tag right now)
The principal at St. Bernadettes called back Friday when I was out. I called Monday morning and left another message.

I actually began searching for information from the city on Governor's Road traffic issues back in February 2006. The lines of communication have not been easy to follow, and I'm still waiting for many questions to be answered by city staff, including the following questions from an October 6, 2006 e-mail:

Who are the city staff working on design?
Is there going to be an EA process?
Is traffic calming being considered (beyond the flashing lights)?
How is the public to be involved in the process?
The GRIDS drawings for this area showed bicycle lanes or some such treatment - is this being done now for the new school?

CITY STAFF

Ed Switenky eswitenk@hamilton.ca

Acting Manager, Traffic Engineering and Operations
Hart Solomon hsolomon@hamilton.ca

Ron Gallo rgallo@hamilton.ca

Supervisor of Signals and Systems, Public Works

Rodney Aitchison raitchis@hamilton.ca

Stay tuned...L.S.

A MAP

2006-10-14T19:19:00.000-07:00

Point B on the map is the site of St. Bernadette School, between B and C is Highland Secondary School (also on the same, i.e south, side of Governors) and just at the south west corner of C is the site of the new elementary school (so far referred to as Dundas West School). That's three schools on this one, straight stretch of road that police have noted is a speeding hot spot.

The proposed roundabout would be to the west of the schools. The traffic calming should be focused between the traffic roundabout in the west and Creighton to the East, where much of the pedestrian traffic originates.

(click on the map to get a bigger image)

Transit

2006-10-14T15:41:00.000-07:00

Governor's Road gets bus service during weekday rush hour, then a bus once an hour at other times during the day, and no service after 10pm or so during the week. There is no bus service on Governors on weekends.

A further complication is the poor internal bus routing in Dundas - high school students wishing to take a city bus to school have no real direct service between the schools and where many of them live (ex. Downtown, York Road, Pleasant View).

If we want people to become less dependent on their cars we need to provide alternatives. Improved bus service, bicycle lanes and pleasant, safe walking routes combined with traffic calming can deliver. We just need to put things in place.

HSR Main Page

Governor's Road: A History

2006-10-13T11:34:00.000-07:00

From: Township of West Flamboro – Province of Ontario
1850 - 1950 Centennial Celebration page 193
.....

The first road constructed in the Township was the Governor’s Road, in fact this was the first road in the Province of Upper Canada, and was commenced by Governor Simcoe in 1793. It was cleared by the early settlers and built by the soldiers as a military road.

THE GOVERNOR’S ROAD
Contributed by Beverley Boyce. Unique in that it is in the First Person Singular.

I first existed as an Indian trail that led through dense forests and swampy land. Joseph Brant, chief of the Mohawks and the war leader of the Six Nations, used me on his trips to Lake Ontario. I have saved them many miles of travel around by Lake Erie, and the treacherous Niagara River, and Lake Ontario.

In 1793, I felt very honoured to have Sir John Graves Simcoe, one of the greatest men Canada has ever known, select me as the route of the road to eventually join the St. Lawrence, York (Toronto) and London on the Le Trenche River (Thames River). Then I was known as they way of the warrior.

I was officially christened Monday, August 23rd, 1793, by Capt. Smith, who named me Dundas Street, to commemorate Henry Dundas, Secretary of State of the Imperial Government. Capt. Smith accompanied by one hundred men, went to clear the road surveyed by Mr. Augustus Jones, Deputy-Surveyor of Stoney Creek, who lived on the site of what was known as the “Salt Works Farm.”

In order to have the land on both sides of me cleared for the road builders, my father gave grants of land to members of the Queen’s Rangers, King’s Regiment and Butler’s Regiment. They were given the grant on three conditions: (i) they must clear thirty-three feet on their side of the surveyor’s line for the road; (ii) they must clear five acres of land; (iii) they must grow enough food to feed the soldiers, who came to build me and be able to shelter them.

My health in my childhood was not the best by any means. I had many sore spots on my body which took the form of quagmires, not to mention the rough corduroy which gave my travelers many a backache and headache. I will describe the construction of a corduroy road to you.

“Whole trees were sacrificed to form a corrugated causeway on their round trunks laid side by side, over which wagons were slowly dragged or bumped, any attempt at speed being checked by immediate symptoms of approaching dissolution in the vehicles.”

The first steam engine for the Grand Trunk Railway was drawn over me by oxen, to Copetown. The railway was built from Copetown to Dundas instead of being built from Dundas to Copetown. The engine was used to pull the “fill” cars back and forth. The story goes, that an engine is buried in the quicksand in the vicinity of Copetown.

My present surface was given to me in 1940 for which I am very grateful. I have now become the King’s Highway No. 99. Now, I am generally used by followers of the peaceful art of farming, and the present pastime of bicycling or driving.

To commemorate my father, Sir John Graves Simcoe, a cairn has been erected on the site where he is supposed to have camped on one of his journeys along my route. You will find the monument on the left hand side of the road going west from Dundas. It is made of stone with a bronze plaque afixed [sic] to the front giving the details of my founding

To-day I while away my time by giving a number of tourists a restful and scenic drive. From the man in a hurry I receive many a chuckle by presenting my many lovely but irresistable [sic] curves.

-30-

Hmmm. "rough corduroy" - something the traffic engineers might want to consider for today's road...L.S.

September minutes

2006-10-13T07:26:00.000-07:00

The latest minutes from the Dundas Community Council:

3(b) Dundas West School

Grading has begun and it is anticipated that the school will be open in September 2007.

Councillor Samson reported that there are three things he has been working on: movement of the traffic guard from Creighton and Kemp to the stoplight at Bridlewood; the erection of two flashing signs to indicate the school area and reduced speed (One at Huntingwood and the other at Moss Blvd.); and a traffic round-a-bout at Davidson Blvd or Pirie. The most recent information received with regard to the round-a-bout was that it is going into the 2007 budget, however they must do an Environmental Assessment before they can finalize it. The purpose of constructing a round-about will be to slow traffic flows while maintaining movement on Governor’s Road.

Some good things there, but I guess the question is: is it enough? While the traffic circle is a physically engineered traffic calming device that forces cars to slow (while maintaining flow), flashing lights rely on enforcement, which is not nearly as effective as physically changing the roadway.

Residents and users need to see the plans in full and make comments to ensure a good design. Perhaps this will come with the EA, but is the EA only in relation to the traffic circle and not the rest of the puzzle? -L.S.

an article to get things going

2006-10-12T20:10:00.000-07:00

Community must improve safety on Governor's Road
Craig Campbell, Dundas Star News

(Sep 29, 2006)
Pedestrian safety on Governor's Road, where a 15-year-old Highland student was hit by a car last week, is a community issue and not a school issue, Highland principal Kathy Starodub said this week.

She said the community must work together to create effective traffic controls and educate pedestrians.

"It's a problem. If you drive around teenagers, you know their awareness is only of themselves," Ms. Starodub said. "It's not just Highland."

Police said last week an investigation found pedestrian error was to blame for the car-pedestrian collision.

The 15-year-old stepped onto Governor's Road, at Huntingwood Drive, without checking for traffic first.

An elderly driver had no time to react. Police said he would not be charged. The boy was taken to hospital with head injuries. His only contact with the car was the windshield striking his head, according to police.

Both police and the school would not release the boy's name.

Ms. Starodub said Tuesday he had been released from hospital and was improving at home.
As of last week, police reported he was speaking a bit and could squeeze his hand when asked.

"Students from the food and nutrition class he's in are making meals for the family," Ms. Starodub said. "His siblings are back at school.

"Our interests and energies are focussed on the boy, and not traffic patterns."

But she said the issue of pedestrian safety did come up at a Highland parent council meeting one day after the accident. She said parents have some concerns, particularly with the expected increase in traffic brought by a new elementary school planned to open down the road from Highland in September 2007.

"They'll take those concerns to the city," Ms. Starodub said.

And the school continues talking to students about traffic safety, obeying basic rules and not crossing in the middle of a block. Ms. Starodub said pedestrian awareness and education is an ongoing effort at the school.

But Highland's principal said the community, and the city, can assist.

She pointed to a city bus stop across the street from Highland that is at the middle of the block.
Despite the school's efforts, Ms. Starodub said, students continue to walk across busy Governor's Road from the bus stop, rather than walking to the corner and crossing at the traffic light.

"The easy answer is move the bus stop to the corner," she said.

Dundas city councillor Art Samson has asked staff to look into the possibility of a roundabout on Governor's Road, a flashing light school zone around the three schools, and a review of crossing guards in the area.

But the safety enhancements will be delayed at least until next year. City council only meets once more before the municipal election, and none of the proposed projects has been budgeted for.

Ed Switenky, manager of traffic engineering and operations, couldn't comment on any short-term improvements the city might be able to make to Governor's Road - in light of last week's accident.

"We haven't reviewed the accident report from the police," Mr. Switenky said.

Police report

When that police report is received, he said staff will review it and consider improvements. Mr. Switenky said the same thing is done with all collision reports.

Constable Phil Cranmer investigated the collision that sent the 15-year-old Highland student to hospital.

He said increasing development around Governor's Road and a 650-student school will create a "terrible mess" on Governor's Road.

"Something has to be done," he said.

According to the City of Hamilton's planning and development department, there are 237 housing units currently proposed for construction just north or south of Governor's Road.
Const. Cranmer said Hamilton Police will be directly involved in pedestrian safety on Governor's Road.

"We'll be writing reports, and scraping bodies off the road," he said.