Prompted by concerns over the orderly flow of traffic back to the U.S. during tourist season, combined with problems during the reconstruction of Central Avenue last summer, town council formed a border traffic committee last fall to help improve flow of both local and visitor traffic in the year ahead.
Last week, that committee, which consists of Police Services Board chair John McTaggart, Coun. Rick Wiedenhoeft, OPP detachment commander Insp. Dave Lucas, Community Services manager George Bell, and Operations and Facilities manager Doug Brown, came back to council with recommendations as to how to do so.
McTaggart told council the committee reviewed Ontario regulations, updates from the Intelligent Border Crossing Group, existing municipal bylaws, and the 2008 construction schedule, as well as consulted with stakeholders, and made short- and long-term recommendations.
While the town has not yet received notification from the province as to whether funding is in place for Phase Two of the Central Avenue construction (which will include the portion of Central Avenue south of First Street, as well as the entire intersection), the following are short-term recommendations to take place if the project goes forth as planned.
The construction will be done in three stages.
< *c>Stage One
Between April 22 and July 2, U.S. border traffic will be re-routed onto Mowat Avenue.
No parking will be permitted on the west side of Mowat Avenue from Second Street East to Scott Street, and a temporary four-way stop will be installed at the intersection of First Street East and Mowat Avenue for the duration of this detour.
The truck route will be revised to allow all westbound and eastbound trucks to use Second Street East as a through town street, or to access Mowat Avenue and eventually the U.S. border.
The reason for this requirement is because Central Avenue is not available from Scott Street and westbound trucks can’t turn northbound onto Mowat Avenue.
< *c>Stage Two
Between July 2-Aug. 6, border traffic will resume along Central Avenue, but no local traffic will be allowed there.
All westbound and eastbound trucks will continue to use Second Street East as a through town street, or to access Mowat Avenue and eventually the U.S. border.
This requirement will be in place for a portion of Phase Two construction until the FFCBC tent and materials are removed from Front Street.
< *c>Stage Three
From Aug. 6-Sept. 13, normal border traffic will resume along Central Avenue. Transport trucks will be routed along Mowat Avenue.
The long-term recommendations of the committee include:
•amending the Traffic Control Bylaw so no “U” turns are allowed on the driving portion of King’s Highway from the intersection of Church Street to Oakwood Road;
•amending the Traffic Control Bylaw so left-hand turns are not allowed from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. from May 15-Oct.15 for westbound traffic at Second Street East and Central Avenue, First Street East and Central Avenue, and Scott Street and Central Avenue; and
•painting two “no stoppage” zones in the south eastbound lane along King’s Highway at Tim Hortons’ entrance and exit (no traffic will be allowed to stop from five metres on each side of the west entrance driveway and 10 metres to the west side of the east exit driveway and 15 metres east of the east limit of the exit).
New signage will include:
•border wait time signs (five signs at 30-minute intervals informing motorists of potential wait times);
•“No U-turn” signs will be posted on Third Street West and King’s Highway and Central Avenue;
•“Do Not Block Entrance” signs and an information sign informing motorists not to sit or occupy the “no stoppage” zones (these will be posted at the entrance and exit of Tim Hortons);
•an information sign at the intersection of Church Street and Central Avenue in the northeast quadrant to direct non-transport truck vehicles to turn right and go to the end of the line;
•an information sign directing motorists to use the Legion Park bathrooms; and
•a temporary four-way stop sign at the corner of First Street East and Mowat Avenue for the duration of the Phase Two construction period.
Also, a transport truck route will be established annually from May 15-Oct. 15 so that trucks could avoid entering into the U.S. border lineup. The transport trucks will access the U.S. border at the intersection of Church Street and Central Avenue.
These trucks will use the train bridge and have a dedicated U.S. Customs gate, not impeding the flow of traffic for non-transport truck motorists.
Eastbound truck traffic on King’s Highway, going to the U.S. border, would proceed on to Second Street East, turn right on Mowat, go south to Church Street, turn right onto Church Street, and proceed to the intersection of Church and Central and into the U.S.-bound traffic line.
Other long-term recommendations include the Intelligent Border Crossings upgrades program, which is funded through the province and federal government.
Within the next four years, four closed-circuit TV cameras will be installed to monitor and forecast traffic delays.
Also within the next four years, traffic signal operations could be modified to restrict left turns at Central and Second and Scott and Central intersection on the approach to Fort Frances border crossing to allow queue management measures.
Within five-10 years, digital message signs will be erected at critical locations along roadways (on Highway 11, just east of Fort Frances for westbound motorists, Highway 71, north of Highway 11, for southbound motorists) to inform motorists of border wait times.
McTaggart also said that at the stakeholders’ meeting, concerns were expressed over implementing measures to ensure the safety of residents and visitors both during the construction and ongoing border traffic line-ups.
“These concerns were very apparent as it related to the recommended measures at the Tim Hortons location and the transport truck traffic going through the downtown core,” he noted.
“In order to provide for a safe environment, we must take measures to ensure the ability of our bylaw and OPP officers to enforce these proposed steps to ensure an orderly traffic flow to the U.S.A. and safety of residents and visitors alike,” added McTaggart.
“We will be required to pass the necessary bylaw and have them approved by the MTO.”
The traffic committee also noted the public must be kept well-informed of the measures prior to and during the border traffic season.
As such, public announcements should be made by the mayor on the radio informing the public of the conditions in traffic and what measures are being taken.
Likewise, the town should develop a pamphlet to be handed out by the Canadian Border Agency to U.S. visitors informing them of the temporary traffic conditions, and Second Street East residents should be notified about changes to the truck route for the duration of the construction period.
Council approved the recommendations in the report, and referred the implementation of these recommendations to the Operations and Facilities manager, OPP, bylaw department, and town clerk.
Fort Frances Times
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