• Approximately 25 Musselman’s Lake residents joined Councillor Smith, Mayor Lovatt, Director of Public Works Brian Kavanagh, and York Region Police Staff Sargent Gary Sangha for last night’s community meeting regarding area traffic and speeding concerns.
  • Residents highlighted dangers on Lakeshore Road and Ninth Line, with a primary focus on pedestrian safety and speeding.
  • “Ninth Line is the single biggest issue at the Lake,” one resident proclaimed, highlighting threats faced by pedestrians along the narrow roadway. Mayor Lovatt agreed, noting that it’s not just speeding but vehicular encroachment on other road users.
  • Lovatt also highlighted jurisdictional concerns surrounding Ninth Line being a regional road, but said he would raise concerns with York Region Staff and appeal for a Ninth Line automated speed enforcement camera.
  • Councillor Smith heralded the opportunity for Stouffville to purchase municipal automated speed enforcement cameras through the 2024 budget process, saying he would support as many as possible to address dangerous driving.
  • The blind corner on Lakeshore Road just after the Ninth Line intersection was also discussed, including the lack of sight lines due to trees on the Town’s easement. The Mayor said Staff have investigated the issue and committed to working with the adjacent property owner to improve visibility.
  • Attendees also expressed concerns about increased use of the area as a thoroughfare, calling for measures to discourage transit through the community.
  • “We need to make it frustrating to use the road, make it a hassle so people avoid it,” someone said.
  • Residents proposed a wide range of other solutions, including radar speed signs, increased police presence, and traffic calming measures such as speed humps and traffic delineators.
  • Sargent Sangha noted challenges in providing consistent enforcement in a specific area due to operational demands and calls to service across the Region.
  • Sidewalks were also top of mind. “Traffic management is fantastic, but we need to get people off the roads,” one resident said.
  • “A sidewalk is crucial. We have this fantastic park our kids can go to, but we have to say a prayer every time they go,“ mentioned another.
  • Concepts for how the roads surrounding Musselman’s Lake could be converted to one-way streets were suggested. While some were opposed to the idea, doing so could free up needed space for sidewalks.
  • While noting any consideration of one-way streets would involve extensive consultation and years of planning studies, Mayor Lovatt was open to the idea.
  • “If we’re serious about safety around the lake, we have to have a conversation: is the priority pedestrian safety, or is it to facilitate two-way traffic on Ninth Line?” Lovatt told the crowd.
  • “Not saying we’re doing it, it’s just an idea we need to look at,” Lovatt clarified, saying a complete sidewalk system is necessary so pedestrians can safely transit the entire lake.
  • Both Lovatt and Smith emphasized that the meeting was the beginning of a conversation needed to best understand local concerns. They promised to bring some near-term solutions to Council in late 2023 or early 2024.