Slower speeds, partial parking ban eyed for Stone Road

August 14, 2013 · 0 Comments

By Brock Weir

Residents of Stone Road could see a partial parking ban on the east side of the street, pending a Council decision next month.

Councillors considered recommendations to ban parking on the east side of Stone Road in the vicinity of Holy Spirit Elementary School as well as lowering the speed limit on the entire stretch of the residential street from 50 km/hour to 40 km this week, but delayed their decision seeking further information on making the restrictions effective only during certain parts of the school year.

A decision was made last fall to take a closer look at traffic and parking in the area following an initial recommendation to ban parking at all times on the east side of Stone Road from Cliff Road to 230 metres south of the intersection.

Residents in the area, according to Ilmar Simanovskis, Aurora’s Director of Infrastructure, reported concerns about sight lines in the area stemming from parked cars obscuring northbound traffic when exiting their driveways.

“The residents reported that vehicles parked around the bend on the east side of the road limit the visibility and causing a safety concern from motorists and pedestrians, particularly elementary school students in the area,” he said.

When the issue came up for Council approval last year, however, some residents came forward to say the issue wasn’t the parking at all, but people speeding up and down the street.

In the meantime, a public meeting was held this past June for residents and was attended by 10 people out of 52 letters sent, according to Mr. Simanovskis. According to his report before Council this week, speeding was addressed at the meeting, as were sightlines around the road’s curve, possible traffic calming measures, and a three-way stop at Stone and Cliff.

While a three-way stop didn’t meet the cut due to the number of pedestrians and vehicles that use the intersection, the department recommends giving Stone Road a 40 km/h speed limit to make the neighbourhood consistent.

“Stone Road has a posted speed limit of 50 km/h, except in the vicinity of Holy Spirit Elementary School and Aurora Grove Public School where the speed limit is reduced to 40 km/h,” says Mr. Simanovskis in his report. “During the meeting with the Stone Road residents, a request was made to reduce the posted speed limit…to 40 in order to slow traffic down and provide consistent speed for area and outside area motorists.

“The general speed limit practices throughout the Town is 40 km/h and, therefore, staff support the speed limit reduction to 40 on Stone Road to be consistent with the current speed practices for the Town.”