A request for a new three-way stop in Porcupine has been voted down.
Timmins council voted against creating the all-way stop at Princess Street and Seguin at its Sept. 8 meeting. Coun. John Curley asked for the change last month after hearing concerns from residents in the area.
A report from director of engineering and public works Pat Seguin explained some of the reasons why the stop sign isn't justified.
In an eight-hour period, the study shows the highest traffic volume hour was 13 vehicles, whereas the Ontario traffic manual minimum requirement for a stop sign is 350. There are also no reported collisions at the intersection for at least five years.
Seguin said the manual also warns against using stop signs for speed control and pedestrian crossings. All-way stops also shouldn't be installed within 250 metres of eachother, he said.
Just west of Seguin, there is already a four-way stop at the Krznaric and Princess Street intersection, which Seguin said probably wasn't justified either.
By putting in traffic controls that aren't warranted, Seguin said motorists tend to roll through them.
"So if pedestrians are counting on a stop sign to cross the street safely, if motorists are starting to roll through then that actually creates more of a hazard than a safety concern,” he said, adding during the eight-hour day they watched the intersect four pedestrians tried to cross the street.
Curley noted there are no sidewalks, and people are walking to catch the bus or go to the nearby school. He said people are also using Princess Street as a faster route because they can drive straight through.
“That was a snapshot on that one day and they can only report what they see,” he said. “And other days it could be different. I know during the school time or wintertime it is quite different.”
Curley also commented on the extent of the detailed report, which included the traffic study numbers and colour photos.
Coun. Kristin Murray pointed out there have been a number of stop signs passed and the report was prepared in learning from those.
“Because if we continue to put up stop signs...I don’t know if people will be able to travel throughout our city with the amount of requests that we’re getting,” she said.
