Work is continuing to tackle traffic concerns and develop a long-term road map for the future – and the Municipality of Brighton is calling on residents to weigh in.
Earlier this year, work got started on the municipality’s transportation master plan (TMP), with municipal staff saying this plan will develop a long-term road network and active transportation strategy.
Among the goals of the study are to address existing needs and accommodate projected population growth.
According to staff, Brighton’s population is forecasted to grow by approximately 40 per cent by 2051.
“This growth will significantly increase demand on the transportation system, creating challenges and a need for improvement for various modes,” reads documentation in a presentation to be shared at a meeting this Thursday.
There was already a TMP meeting earlier this year in March, and now a second public information centre (PIC) is set for this Thursday, May 2 from 6 to 8 p.m. at the Codrington Community Centre (2992 County Rd. 30.)
These meetings are being held with hopes of rallying residents’ input. The study will be further informed by additional public consultation efforts that are either ongoing or still to come.
This Thursday, there will be a project presentation accessible (it’s also accessible online now.) The presentation aims to provide an overview of the study, inclusive of problems and opportunities to be addressed. The public’s input is critical in tackling issues and to identify additional concerns that may have been missed, explained staff.
Simply put, this is a chance to learn more about the project and for residents to have their say.
The Codrington meeting will also be held in an open-house, drop-in style format, with no formal presentation component.
Instead, study materials will be on display and the project team will be able to talk about the project and answer residents’ questions.
The plan is meant to provide long-term strategies – into the 2050s – to support existing and future transportation needs.
Specifically, some goals include connecting residential, commercial, industrial and recreational areas; promoting sustainable multi-modal links to areas of growth and key transportation corridors to accommodate population and employment growth; promoting a safe, environmentally-responsible and accessible transportation network, and creation of a capital plan to fund future transportation needs, to name a few.
However, the plan will also review connectivity to infrastructure owned/operated by others – county roads, transit, provincial highways like Hwy. 401, railway lines, et cetera, and their proposals to their agencies/infrastructure.
Earlier this year, Mayor Brian Ostrander also highlighted hopes this study will help tackle concerning driving in the community in various neighbourhoods – some of which are experiencing “serious concerns.”
“We wanted to undertake a fulsome master plan of transportation to get a better idea of how to prepare for road safety – how to get people to slow down and obey traffic rules,” said Ostrander, explaining council continues to hear from residents wanting speed limit reductions, speed bumps, stop signs installed, et cetera.
With traffic engineers and field experts’ help, Brighton aims to further zero in on focus areas, stretches where speed limit changes may be needed, et cetera.
Ostrander also highlighted the growth the community has experienced to date, and more so in recent years. Growth to date and increased traffic on roadways were also driving factors in initiating the project.
Ostrander emphasized the importance of residents’ input in this specific project.
“We want to know where you’re seeing bottlenecks, where you’re seeing concerning driving, where you’re seeing opportunities to change things for the better for the community.”
The study involving the preparation of a TMP document will satisfy Phases 1 and 2 of the related Municipal Class Environmental Assessment process for this project.
According to the municipality, in terms of next steps, after this meeting, the team will work at reviewing and compiling issues and opportunities considering public input.
Residents can also review materials and find a comment form online (due by May 17.)
As the study progresses, project updates will be posted online via the municipality’s dedicated webpage.
The goal is to prepare the transportation master-plan report and issue a notice of study completion by fall 2024.
(Written by: Sarah Hyatt)
