• Stouffville and York Region aim to launch a transportation study focused on road safety in the Musselman’s Lake area.
  • The study will assess short- and long-term needs for pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists, guided by community input.
  • Residents have long cited safety hazards, including blind corners, speeding, and inadequate pedestrian infrastructure.
  • Town Council debated whether Stouffville should help fund the study, ultimately voting to make the Region solely responsible for costs.
  • Ninth Line, a Regional road long overdue for infrastructure investment, will be a primary focus.
  • Council members expressed frustration over York Region’s delayed response to Ninth Line concerns, citing years of inaction.
  • The study may not proceed if projected costs escalate and full funding is not committed by the Region.

 

A long-desired transportation study aimed at addressing chronic road and pedestrian safety concerns in the Musselman’s Lake area could soon get underway. Through a proposed partnership with York Region, Stouffville hopes to launch the planning initiative to examine the area’s road network and identify necessary upgrades.

The project follows years of resident complaints about traffic hazards and inadequate pedestrian and cycling infrastructure in the community. A key focus will be the safety of non-motorists along Ninth Line, where pedestrians often contend with speeding vehicles and minimal separation from traffic.

The study “is intended to identify both short- and long-term opportunities to support the needs of all road users, including pedestrians, cyclists, and motorists,” explained Jack Graziosi, Stouffville’s Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works, in comments to Bullet Point News today.

A steering committee would be established to guide the process, and community workshops would help shape a shared vision for the area. A public meeting is already scheduled for June 26, and a second round of engagement this fall would gather feedback on preliminary findings and proposed actions.

“At this stage, the study is focused on exploring a range of solutions and does not commit to specific outcomes such as the installation of a sidewalk,” Graziosi said. “The objective is to take a balanced, evidence-based approach that reflects community input and safety considerations.”

A History of Local Safety Concerns

According to a recent Staff report, concerns about Ninth Line and surrounding Musselman’s Lake roads were top-of-mind for residents during the 2018 municipal election. While initial discussions between the Town and Region began shortly after, progress stalled during the COVID-19 pandemic.

This renewed effort also follows a June 2023 community meeting at the Ballantrae Community Centre, where residents outlined dire conditions for Musselman’s Lake pedestrians. “Ninth Line is the single biggest issue at the Lake,” one resident said at the time, describing the narrow roadway as a significant hazard. Community members also cited speeding, blind corners, and poor sight lines throughout the area.

Attendees proposed various solutions, including radar speed signs, increased police presence, and the installation of speed humps and delineators. The idea of converting certain roads to one-way traffic was also floated as a way to free space for sidewalks. While divisive, the concept drew consideration from Mayor Iain Lovatt.

“Not saying we’re doing it, it’s just an idea we need to look at,” Lovatt said, acknowledging the need for a continuous pedestrian system 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?”

“All potential solutions are being reviewed, including the possibility of implementing one-way traffic flows along Ninth Line,” Graziosi told Bullet Point News. “This option will be evaluated alongside others for its feasibility and potential impact on traffic operations and safety.”

Since the 2023 community meeting, the Town has remained focused on identifying practical, near-term measures to enhance safety in the area, Graziosi added. In the coming weeks, Stouffville will be extending its temporary speed hump pilot project and enhancing pavement markings.

“These improvements are designed to increase driver awareness, improve visibility, and encourage motorists to stay within their lanes, particularly in high-risk bend areas,” Graziosi said. “We anticipate completing these safety enhancements by mid-June 2025.”

Council Rejects Cost-Sharing

The study was originally planned as a jointly funded initiative, with Stouffville allocating $100,000 and York Region budgeting up to $50,000 to be reimbursed to the Town. That changed, however, when the item came before Council on May 21.

Recognizing the need, Ward 6 Councillor Sue Sherban objected to Stouffville covering any portion of the study’s costs. She pointed to the Region’s willingness to conduct major infrastructure projects in other municipalities and questioned why the Musselman’s Lake study required financial commitments from the Town.

Sherban told Council she would move to amend the proposal to ensure the Town provides no financial contribution. “I truly do not believe that we should be putting our money into this,” she said. “This should be fully paid by the Region.”

Ward 1 Councillor Hugo Kroon echoed her stance, beginning with a critical question to Graziosi: “Is this typical for the Region to realize that they have a problem road, and they just ignore it as long as they possibly can until the municipality finally says, ‘You know what? We need to get this going’?”

“The function of the road does seem to operate more as a local road than it would the way Regional roads are defined,” Graziosi responded. “A lot of the concerns have been raised by residents to members of Stouffville’s Council, not Regional Council, so that is where these discussions have started.”

Noting public safety is a Town priority, Graziosi explained that Stouffville is responsible for managing pedestrian transit even along Regional roads. “The pedestrian interface with the traffic on Ninth Line is…a municipal concern,” he said. “But, with all due respect to the Region, that is a road that falls within their jurisdiction.”

While the study represents an early step in a longer process, Kroon emphasized that upgrades to Ninth Line will come with a significant price tag. “We know that this road, to be upgraded to anything that would approximate a Regional road, is going to take millions and millions,” he said. “The Region is trying to avoid that as long as possible.”

Kroon also remarked that under that proposed structure, Town Staff would be doing work that should fall under the Region’s purview. Referring to resident calls for sidewalks, he said there is no space for them without extending portions of Ninth Line 20 feet into the lake.

“[The Region is] not giving Whitchurch-Stouffville its due,” Kroon concluded, arguing the municipality has long been the “weak sister” when it comes to Regional infrastructure investments. “ We need this road done, but we need to tell…the Region, ‘This is your road. You fix this…and let us know when it’s done.’ I don’t want to spend money on this.”

Graziosi said the study’s $100,000 allocation was based on a scenario where a consultant would be required. “At this time, I do not forecast there to be a need for a consultant. A lot of the work that we are planning is going to be done in-house,” he said.

Mayor Lovatt emphasized the environmental sensitivity of Musselman’s Lake and the need for shoreline stabilization. He estimated the cost of Ninth Line improvements could reach $2 million or more and stressed the importance of conducting the study to determine the community’s needs.

“It  is a unique community within our municipality, and they certainly deserve…our contribution because of all the adjacent roads that are [Town] roads,” Lovatt said. “How they are going to interact with Ninth Line is important, but I will reiterate that the first $50,000 spent on anything will come from the Region. That has been promised by Regional staff.”

Following the Mayor’s comments, Sherban and Kroon stood firm in opposing any Town contribution. Sherban’s amendment to eliminate any municipal funding was adopted on a 5–2 vote. Only Lovatt and Ward 2 Councillor Maurice Smith, who represents the Musselman’s Lake area, supported cost-sharing.

In follow-up comments provided to Bullet Point News, Graziosi reiterated his belief that a consultant will not be required. “However, if a consultant is needed…and the Region doesn’t commit to cover all the costs, then the study would not be undertaken,” he said.