The Bloomfield Area Business Association (BABA) and other concerned residents are worried about dangerous traffic speeds in the village.

Last year, the Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) commissioned a study that showed the majority of drivers exceed the current 50km/h speed limit by about 10km/h, with some going as fast as 115km/h while driving through the village.

A recommendation was passed by Council on April 25 to create a 40km/h zone along Bloomfield Main Street, beginning at Stanley St. and extending east for 420 metres. Staff were also instructed to consult with the MTO regarding “intermediary zones” (gradually reducing the speed limit) at the east and west urban boundaries of Bloomfield Main Street. These consultations are “ongoing,” according to County spokesperson Mark Kerr.

In the absence of results from the MTO consultation, a BABA survey of 145 residential and business property owners found that 91 per cent considered traffic to be a major issue and 88 per cent wanted the speed limit to be reduced to 40 km/hr throughout the entire village.

One hundred property owners have chosen to install CAA “Slow Down, please” signs at their properties to show their support. On Friday night somebody moved many of these signs to Councillor Prinzen’s front lawn.

Residents have also asked the Traffic Advisory Committee to evaluate traffic speeds on Stanley St. In a deposition on July 12, resident Patrick Maloney pointed out that Stanley St. is the “fourth busiest road in the County,” and at the same time the most popular access point for the Millennium Trail.

Mr. Maloney reported that posted speed limits allow for the fact that most drivers do speed — but no more than 15 km/h over the signed speed limit. He argued that an effective speed limit of 55km would result from making Stanley St. a 40km zone.

A survey of 49 houses in the area produced similar results to that of Main Street.

The committee decided to recommend integrating traffic calming for this section of Stanley St. into a future capital project. There is no set date for such a project. Meanwhile, Counsellor Grosso supported using photo radar for enforcement of speed limits, especially when the seasonally increased population of the County is not matched by an increase in police officers.

Guy de Carteret has been active in attempting to make Bloomfield Main safer for years. He worries that the procedures for making changes are not transparent.

“No logic was offered for the beginning or ending of the calming zone that was approved for Bloomfield. It does not correspond with any significant geographical point, like a sidewalk, and no opportunity was offered to ask questions. Deputations from citizens seem to be recorded and forgotten,” he said.

At issue in this local struggle for safety in an increasingly busy area is a larger one: the  disparity between the lived experience of citizens and the results of technical surveys, performed by engineers from elsewhere.