• Residents attended an information session at the Ballantrae Community Centre on June 26 to discuss traffic and pedestrian safety solutions in the Musselman’s Lake area.
  • Proposals include converting part of Ninth Line to one-way with pedestrian/cyclist paths, and a new road connecting Lakeshore Road to Aurora Road.
  • Some residents supported the one-way idea for improving pedestrian and cyclist safety and discouraging through-traffic on Ninth Line and Lakeshore.
  • Others opposed the one-way proposal, citing concerns over restricted access and longer travel times for residents along Ninth Line.
  • Supporters of the new collector road noted improved access and active transportation links, while opponents warn it could attract more traffic to the area.
  • York Region and the Town are in an early visioning phase, with further consultation and refined proposals expected later this year.
  • A survey has also been created for residents to offer additional feedback.

 

An informal meeting at the Ballantrae Community Centre on Thursday night offered residents of Musselman’s Lake a chance to weigh in on transportation solutions for the area. The community has raised long-standing concerns about traffic, speeding, road conditions, and pedestrian safety surrounding the lake.

The public information session launched a visioning phase for a joint transportation study, conducted in partnership between York Region and the Town of Whitchurch-Stouffville. The initiative was recently endorsed by Stouffville’s Council provided it comes at no added costs to the Town.

While attendees were invited to share general thoughts on mobility and road safety, two major considerations were introduced for feedback: reducing a portion of Ninth Line to a single, one-way lane to accommodate pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, and constructing a new connecting road between Lakeshore Road and Aurora Road.

That proposed collector road was originally introduced in Stouffville’s 2024 Transportation Master Plan. The 0.6-kilometre throughway would begin just northwest of the Connor Drive and Lakeshore intersection, exiting onto Aurora Road near the Ballantrae Community Centre and future sports dome.

The road would serve as an alternative connection intended to ease pressure on existing arterial routes such as Ninth Line. The project is identified in the 2025–2027 budget as a developer-front-ended line item, with a cost estimate of $1.22 million in 2023 dollars. Its execution timeline is listed as short-term in the Master Plan.

A representative from York Region attended the meeting to discuss Ninth Line rehabilitation. While extensive work is needed on the regional road, this marked the first formal presentation of a one-way conversion concept. The Region’s existing right-of-way on Ninth Line is approximately 7.2 metres wide, which does not allow space for pedestrian or cycling infrastructure alongside two vehicle lanes.

Expanding the right-of-way would prove costly. It would also require complex negotiations with local property owners, many of whom have deeded access to the lake, as well as engagement with the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation Authority regarding any shoreline impacts.

A possible solution involves removing one traffic lane to create space for an in-boulevard shared path for pedestrians and cyclists. Early discussion at the session focused primarily on maintaining northbound vehicle movement, though there was also interest in using traffic signals to alternate the direction of one-way traffic flow.

The exact start and end points of the proposed one-way section were also discussed, as the Region would need to balance traffic reduction with continued access for residents who rely on two-way movement.

While residents were unified in identifying transportation concerns and the need for solutions, they expressed mixed feelings about the proposals. The new collector road could offer improved access, better pedestrian and cyclist connections, and a convenient route to the Ballantrae Community Centre and park. However, some worried it would attract more traffic to the area, undermining the goal of reducing it.

Bullet Point News spoke with Musselman’s Lake resident Terry Cariglia-Bull following the meeting. She expressed concerns about the tension between improving traffic flow and ensuring safety.

“I see those two concepts as opposing each other. If we improve traffic flow, more traffic will choose that path,” Cariglia-Bull said, touching on the concept of induced demand. She also worries about adding traffic to Lakeshore, a narrow roadway that presents a number of safety challenges due to poor sightlines.

“One-way, with a bike lane and walking path, will encourage active transportation and improve safety around the lake,” Cariglia-Bull added. “I also like the idea of ‘one-way at a time’, using lights to take turns. Residents will still be able to get to where they need to go, but it will deter people from using Ninth or Lakeshore as a throughway.”

Reducing the use of Ninth Line as a bypass between Bloomington and Aurora Roads was a common theme among attendees. However, not all supported the one-way concept. Several Ninth Line residents, particularly those living between Coultice Drive and Cedarvale Boulevard, voiced concern about being restricted to one direction and potentially needing to travel longer routes to reach destinations.

“The ‘solution’ of making a section of Ninth Line one-way would inconvenience local residents, who would be forced to alter their travel to or from their homes,” said Cariglia-Bull’s spouse, Steve Bull. “It would still accommodate those using Ninth as a thoroughfare, prioritizing travel through the community by non-residents over travel within it by residents.”

The Town has launched a webpage dedicated to the Musselman’s Lake transportation visioning process. Public consultation includes an online survey, which will help the Town and Region refine the improvement concepts. A follow-up meeting with formal proposals is expected to be held in the fall.