Committee of the Whole heard deputations from two concerned citizens about the Picton Town Hill intersection last week. Both recommended signal lights rather than building a roundabout. The arguments were persuasive.

Gary Mooney offered a crowd-sourced response to the idea a roundabout at the Hill. His Facebook-based poll of 588 County residents offered the choices, “do nothing,” “roundabout,” and “signalize.” First choice by a long shot was “do nothing.”

Getting beyond a mere yes or no, however, to consider more detailed criteria, Mr. Mooney argued that signal lights at the bottom of the hill represented the best option. Signals would make for greater safety at the intersection itself, and provide for vehicles coming up the hill.

He cited the example of an intersection in Hamilton, very similar in layout and grading, at which signals proved a successful solution. Doing “something modest” (signage and the removal of a building) was a close second.

Despite Acting CAO Arryn McNichol’s assurances that the county’s engineers would make both deputations part of the public record, to be considered in the ongoing Environmental Assessment, Councillor Phil St. Jean thought a motion to direct staff to include consideration of the “do nothing” and “do something modest” options was important.

“I would like to give clear direction that all options be considered in the process,” he said, “and I want to get it in writing.” The motion passed.

Steve Sykes offered an analysis of materials that have been available to the public since the Transportation Master Plan was first introduced in 2021, with special attention to the Draft Study Design Report of December 2022 and the Public Consultation Centre of October 2023.

He said the key problem at this intersection was the current “uncontrolled right” of westbound traffic “to proceed up the hill at speed, at all times.” The right-of-way makes for havoc, especially, he noted, for pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users.

The conflict between pedestrians and vehicles with an uncontrolled right-of-way is a serious safety issue. Mr. Sykes made an important statement of principle: “Picton is a lovely, historic town best explored not in a vehicle.”

At the moment, pedestrians must walk well out of their way to get from one corner to the next, no matter which side of the street they are on.

“A motorist can wait thirty seconds,” he argued, to alleviate the situation.

The reason for the right-of-way at the town hill is of course the hill: the challenge that stopping on a steep grade presents to drivers, especially of large trucks, buses, or farm vehicles, especially in winter. Mr. Sykes noted that the favoured solution, a roundabout, would not solve the problem of westbound traffic having to stop or slow down on a steep grade: it still requires entering traffic to yield to vehicles already in the roundabout.

Instead, he also concluded that signalizing the intersection, as in Hamilton, with a light for westbound traffic at the bottom of the hill, would solve the problem. If in synchronization with lights at the top of the hill, signal lights would guarantee westbound traffic a right of way without having to slow down or stop.

At the top, synchronized lights would also allow for a safe pedestrian crossing, which the options “doing nothing” or “something modest” would not.

Signal lights. Universally understood. Half as costly. Pedestrian friendly.