If early results are any indication, a road in Timmins may just be the worst in Ontario.
Ontarians have until Friday to vote in the Canadian Automobile Association South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) Worst Roads in Ontario poll.
Caroline Grech, government relations specialist for CAA SCO, said this campaign is about more than just potholes.
“We want to hear from drivers, cyclists, pedestrians and transit riders about things like potholes, congestion, bad traffic signal timing, confusing road signs. Just anything that really alters your travelling experience,” said Grech.
Last year’s “winners” were all located in southern Ontario, but as of this morning Algonquin Boulevards East and West, as well as Riverside Drive in Timmins are tied for first with Dufferin Street in Toronto.
Grech said the intention of the campaign is not to shame.
“We’re trying to work with municipalities. We’re not suggesting they aren’t doing their job. We just want to help,” she said.
She welcomes efforts by Timmins Mayor Steven Black to encourage residents to vote for local roads in the campaign.
“He looks at it as an opportunity to highlight that part street and get it fixed,” she said.
As a result of the campaign, every year CAA SCO publishes a list of the top 10 worst roads in Ontario, which Gretch admits is often dominated by roads in the Greater Toronto Area.
This year the association is also publishing top five lists of the worst roads by region.
“We did these regional lists because we wanted to give more municipalities a chance to be heard,” she said.
Last year the Ontario government dedicated 7.5 cents per litre of the provincial gas tax towards infrastructure and transit, something CAA SCO would like to see continue.
“We want to see that become permanent,” said Grech.
Grech said the regional top five lists will help municipalities focus on the roads that need improvement most.
“It takes some of the guesswork out of the planning,” she said.
(PHOTO: Caroline Grech, government relations specialist for CAA SCO, seen April 15, 2015 holding a promotional CAA traffic cone. Kenneth Armstrong/VillageMedia)
