Staff
Canada Post is asking the town for permission to install a community mailbox on the property between 165 and 205 Third St. W.
In a letter from Chris Ruby, delivery planning officer for Canada Post Corp., he explained the reason for the request is due to a health and safety concern—namely that the roadway is too busy.
“The report suggested that the traffic density was too high on this block of road to allow the LC [letter carrier] to safely walk on the road to deliver to each address,” he wrote.
“The LC is forced to walk on the road in the absence of a sidewalk per Canada Post policy,” he added.
Ruby noted Canada Post conducted a safety audit based on the width of the lanes and the number of cars present in the lanes during a 15-minute period.
In this specific case, with a lane width of four-4.5 metres and the maximum posted speed limit of 50 km/h, the maximum number of cars present in the lane is 50.
The audit showed 80 cars were present in the lane during the 15-minute test period.
“This is well above the maximum,” Ruby indicated.
Canada Post then started a search for an alternate method of mail delivery.
The notion of relocating customers to post office boxes was considered, but quickly dismissed as it was deemed too disruptive, noted Ruby.
The other option was to move customers into a community mailbox, and have it in the most convenient and least-disruptive location possible.
The site, located on the short road on the south side of Third Street West, between the historical house at 165 Third St. W. and 205 Third St. W., was chosen.
Council referred the request to the Planning and Development executive committee, with input from Operations and Facilities.
