Newmarket Mayor John Taylor welcomes your questions, to which he will personally write the responses in this candid monthly column. Send your questions to [email protected], with the subject line Up Front Question.
Q: With development and new entertainment and restaurants in the downtown core, I feel tiered parking should be a greater priority for the Town of Newmarket than a new library, as the existing library services the community well. With future growth, a library/community centre with pool and gym, and a major sponsor, would be awesome in about 10 years. More parking downtown is needed; what is the Town doing about this NOW? — Wayne Webb
A: Hi Wayne, first let me say that we had no challenge with parking downtown 10 years ago, so this is a good news story! Town council has established increased parking in the downtown as a strategic priority for this term. We have created a downtown BIA/Town task force and we plan to have a report for council next year on short, medium and long-term options for addressing downtown parking needs. A tiered parking structure will be fully considered as part of this process.
We know we will never be able to create enough parking for major events or peak demand, and we know that more and more people are walking and biking downtown, but we do believe we can improve parking in various ways and that there are options to add more parking in the short and long term.
A needs/trends study will be conducted related to library services in the next year or two, and council will examine the need for any library improvements, which will be considered among other needs in the community before any decisions are made.
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Q: Regarding the advance green light at Gorham and Prospect, I have found there is far more traffic going westbound than eastbound at this intersection and they have the advance green. At certain times of the day, the traffic backs up on Gorham as the cars trying to make the left turn block the intersection. Why not have an advance green for both eastbound and westbound traffic at the same time? — Bev Gurney
A: Hi Bev, I have been asked this question many times and I have asked Region of York staff to explore this issue and look for solutions. Traffic operations at this location are complicated by the railway tracks, located to the west of the intersection, and the intersection layout, as well as by historic homes built close to the intersection.
Having said that, staff conducted multiple westbound left-turn studies. The most recent study was conducted earlier this year. The studies show that during rush hour, travellers from all four approaches will experience delays. The traffic signal timing plan must balance the needs of all road users, including pedestrians. The studies also showed travellers making the westbound left turn and travellers going through did not experience unnecessary delays, except during school drop-off time. During that time, westbound left-turning traffic was blocking through traffic. These delays were not observed to last more than one traffic signal cycle.
A westbound left-turn advance green arrow is not recommended by staff because the majority of westbound left-turning vehicles are able to clear the intersection during the first cycle. It would also increase delays for eastbound traffic while westbound traffic would continue to be limited by the geometric constraints of the intersection. It is not possible to widen the intersection without significant investment and property acquisition. We will continue to examine this intersection and consider a more significant redesign if the westbound traffic flow gets significantly worse.
