The Niagara Region will hold a public engagement workshop on Nov. 13 to hear design opinions for a controversial roundabout planned for the intersection of York and Four Mile Creek roads in St. Davids.
The workshop will use the feedback and incorporate ideas to formulate designs that reflect the public’s visual desires, says Frank Tassone, the region’s director of transportation services.
“Most specifically, to get the community involved in the potential landscape,” he said, adding that feedback will also be sought for an additional beautifying project on the west end of the community near the Queenston and York roads intersection.
The meeting will separate attendees into working groups in which they can brainstorm and offer thoughts on beautification and designs that best reflect the St. Davids village.
“We’re going to have the working groups discussing things like the character of the area and some histories. We want to hear some stories and things that are meaningful for the community.”
The meeting is not about whether or not the roundabout will be built, says NOTL regional councillor Andrea Kaiser — and it is important for its attendees to understand this, she said.
“That is not what this is about,” she said, noting plans are a go for the contentious piece of infrastructure.
A petition against the project started by the St. Davids Ratepayers Association a little more than a year ago has accumulated 855 signatures as of Nov. 5.
“The purpose roundabouts provide is the opposite of what’s needed in our village centre,” it states.
“We need traffic to slow down and to stop. We need children and elders, including those with visual impairment and other needs, along with the tourists we so happily welcome, to cross safely.”
Other concerns highlighted by the association include the cost and how the surrounding parcel of land the roundabout will cover is better served to house business opportunities.
“In terms of budget … $895,000 has been allocated for the environmental assessment and detailed design,” communications consultant Janet Rose told The Lake Report.
“But the construction budget estimates are still being refined, so we don’t have details on that to share at this time,” she added.
Proponents of the intersection’s transition include Lord Mayor Gary Zalepa, who sits on the regional council as one of 12 Niagara mayors with 19 other elected representatives from Niagara municipalities.
“The environmental study indicates that the roundabout actually fits better into the space than the signalized intersection does,” he said, adding that he has attended every open house and read the detailed reports.
Zalepa also believes that circular and free-flowing design will make the intersection safer.
“There is never a head-to-head collision,” he said. “If (accidents) happen they are kind of just grazes and bumps.”
The proposed single-lane roundabout will fit vehicles up to a standard tractor-trailer with a six-metre-wide road and a three-metre-wide truck apron.
The meeting will be at White Oaks Resort and Spa at 253 Taylor Rd. in NOTL from 5 to 7 p.m.
