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Letter: Traffic calming attempts ‘thick-witted’

Making Marcel Street narrower and allowing cars to park on either side, putting parking meters in the downtown core on Elm Street and now removing the four-way stop at Marcel-Bouchard is the third most thick-witted idea ever.
Making Marcel Street narrower and allowing cars to park on either side, putting parking meters in the downtown core on Elm Street and now removing the four-way stop at Marcel-Bouchard is the third most thick-witted idea ever.

Nothing surprises me when it comes to this city and its traffic problems.

The city installs a median, a traffic circle and an illuminated traffic beacon advising motorists when they are over the speed limit on Southview Drive.

The city then removes the traffic circle and the raised median and installs a four-way stop.

Many southern Ontario cities and much of Europe have benefitted from roundabouts (traffic circles) to keep traffic flowing, but at a reduced rate of speed.

Unfortunately, Southview Drive was not the proper site to install a traffic circle.

What does all of this say about Sudbury’s planning committee? The city implements measures to address the problems and then removes them at a cost to taxpayers. Why not do it once and do it right?

The medians and the raised intersection on Southview Drive were more hazardous to motorists than they were helpful. The city uses more taxpayer dollars and installs speed bumps, which, apparently, have helped with the drag strip feature of Southview Drive.

Then it is mentioned that the speed bumps aggravate motorists. The speed and noise aggravate the residents of Southview Drive. Killing someone because of excessive speed would be aggravating.

I believe a simple solution to the problem once and for all is to keep the four-way stop at Marcel-Bouchard and install one or two more four-way stops down Southview Drive and remove the speed bumps.

If traffic is forced to slow down and everyone gets an equal chance to cross/merge into traffic, there is no reason to poll the residents.

The four-way stops decrease the likelihood of accidents, noise and speed on busy streets such as Southview Drive. I think the city spending taxpayers’ money inefficiently should be commented on, as it is our money.

The city should not be applauded for attempting to rectify the issue, as it comes at a cost to us.

Janet Wyman
Sudbury