More parking and traffic improvements coming to Paris streets

By Casandra Turnbull

Some traffic and parking modifications were recently passed by the Administrative and Operations Committee and ratified by council.

The suggested changes were brought forth from the Brant Safe Streets program and by various county departments, councillors heard at the February 21st Administrative and Operations committee meeting. Parking modifications will affect the following streets: Charlotte St, Cedar St, Brock St, Cleaver Rd, Baird St andArlington Pkwy.

One of the most notable propositions to come from the February 21st meeting is a suggested stop sign on Silver

Street at the Oak Ave/Mulberry St intersection, just east of Northward School. The reason, according to data collected through Brant Safe Streets initiative, is to slow down eastbound and westbound motorists on Silver Street.

County staff collected data on this stretch of roadway from October 5-10, 2019. During the 40 km/hr time period (during school hours 8 am to 5 pm) data shows the average speed for eastbound motorists was 50 km/hr while the 85th percentile was calculated at 57 km/hr. The westbound speed was 52 km/hr while the 85th percentile was 60 km/hr. For the purpose of this study, the 85th percentile is what 85% of the motorists are driving at or below the respected speeds Outside of school hours, the average motorist is driving about 3 km/hr faster.

One of Paris’ Ward 2 Councillors, Steve Howes, supports this fourway stop stating he’s confident it will contribute to increased safety on Silver Street. It was noted that the most recent pedestrian volumes, vehicular volumes and reported collision history indicates a pedestrian signal is not currently warranted at this intersection.

The new intersection will be marked with painted crosswalks and stop bars. The total cost of the project is pegged at $5,600 and will be covered under the 2023 sign operating and Brant Safe Streets budgets

A four-way stop will be installed at this intersection –Silver St & Mulberry/Oak Ave. The decision was recently passed at the Administrative and Operations committee meeting and supported by council.