Dear editor:

A number of articles have appeared in area newspapers concerning the establishment of a roundabout in St. Davids.

Based on these stories, it would appear the Region of Niagara is intent on establishing a roundabout in St. Davids, which would require considerable road work, traffic delays and expropriating land – all of which I would think would be a significant cost. 

The region appears to want to do this at a time when everyone’s residential taxes are increasing, along with the cost of housing, food and just plain living.

I think most residents who elected or regional representatives would feel fiscal restraint should be the policy of the day. Reduce our tax burden, don’t increase it.

The thought processes in play are perplexing and raise a number of questions:

1. The region has indicated that it wants to interact with the residents of St. Davids to address their concerns. Regional Coun. Andrea Kaiser has approached the St. Davids Ratepayers Association in this regard. Notably, the association doesn’t represent all of the constituents of St. Davids but it would be fair to say it does reflect all of the residents of St. Davids when it states there is massive resistance to the creation of a roundabout.

It appears from some news stories that the association is being put into a position where it is being forced to work with the region’s autocratic objective to build a roundabout.

2. One would have thought a traffic study would have been done that would overwhelmingly justify the significant amount of money needed to build a roundabout versus leaving the intersection a four-way stop, versus stop lights? A cost-benefit analysis? Articles do not mention any traffic studies.

3. It was stated that in one story that “the region’s plan for 2023 is starting a draft design on a roundabout for the St. Davis intersection at York and Four Mile Creek roads, in the village’s commercial centre, a recommendation put forth by a regional environmental assessment report in 2021.” This reference raises an additional plethora of questions:

a) What commercial district is there in St. Davids. It’s hardly a commercial district? It’s a village.

b) Why and how does an environmental assessment make recommendations about traffic flows and the need for the construction of a roundabout? And why is the region relying on an environmental assessment as justification for road construction?

c) Is the region relying on an environmental assessment to justify the cost of a draft design of a roundabout?

d) Wouldn’t the money be better spent with a roundabout in Virgil where Four Mile Creek and Highway 55 meet, where significant traffic flows occur and where traffic lights actually slow traffic down significantly at that intersection?

4. Wouldn’t a St. Davids roundabout increase the speed at which cars travel in the area, create greater safety issues for students of St. Davids Public School, walkers, bicyclists, and cause significant difficulties for residents egressing from Avondale, the dental office, the Old Firehall restaurant, post office, Lion’s Club, St. Davids Golf Course, Warner Road, Tanbark, Four Mile Creek, etc.? 

5. How does this roundabout benefit the residents of St. Davids, improve the quaintness/charm of the village, and increase safety for vehicles and pedestrians?

6. Is anyone listening to the objections of St. Davids residents?

Gienek Ksiazkiewicz
St. Davids