Huntsville municipal staff have been looking at ways to improve pedestrian safety along the Hwy. 60 corridor, according to a report brought forward at the Huntsville September 27 General Committee meeting by Tarmo Ukkivvi, the Town’s Director of Operations and Protective Services.
“There are possibilities and we have worked with the MTO and they are open to discussions related to putting in sidewalks setback from Hwy 60 along their corridor,” said Uukkivi.
He said proper Ontario government assessments and operational reviews of the highway need to be looked at first. From there, recommendations may be made which could result in an agreement between MTO and the Town. He said the Town already has agreements in place with the MTO.
“The Hunters Bay Trail is an example where we do encroach onto the Hwy 11 corridor and we have several agreements related to that in place. So we can work this, It is possible but the sidewalks would be 100 per cent a Town initiative that would need to be funded through the Town, once we get the proper permissions to put it in there,” he added.
In the meantime, the Town’s Active Transportation and Public Transit Committee is also working on ideas related to walking trails and paths around the Hwy 60 corridor. One of those options involves a connection from Fairyview Drive to Hwy 60 that would involve privately owned property. A bus stop will be added by the Laketree apartment building as well, said Councillor Bob Stone who serves as Vice Chair of that committee.
Councillors also heard that ratification of the recommendations considered to enable staff to move forward as quickly as possible to look at ways of improving pedestrian safety before winter would be sent to Huntsville’s Planning Council, which meets before the regular council.
“I’m very pleased to see this report come to council and absolutely really like the idea of engaging the private property owners in the area. I think that we will be able to solve, hopefully, this problem far sooner than later, than the MTO will be able to solve it. So I think that involving the private landowners in that area, I’m really optimistic hopefully that we’ll be able to come to a solution there before the snow flies,” said Councillor Corey Clark. He referenced the petition from those who use the corridor regarding safety concerns and said council agrees that it’s a safety concern and has committed to solving it as best and as quickly as possible.
Click HERE, for the staff report.
Don’t miss out on Doppler!
Sign up here to receive our email digest with links to our most recent stories.
Local news in your inbox so you don’t miss anything!
Click here to support local news
I do think that plowing the sidewalks in winter at least up to Fairyview Drive should be top of the list for pedestrian safety. Many times in winter people are walking along either from work or with their groceries to the apartments on both sides of the road. It always shocked me that the plows covered the sidewalks there. Please add it to your list.
Part of the safe walking and biking problem is the attitude of vehicle drivers. They need to slow down!
That’s great the Town is looking at safety for walkers. Now how about wider paved shoulders on existing roads for bike riders. Many vehicle operators do not like bike riders so it would be nice to have a safer place to ride to work. We should all be thinking green. Bracebridge has done a nice job on their trails as Barrie, Orillia, and Collingwood have too. Huntsville is behind but now is always a good time to start.👍
Totally agree with the comments of Kirsty Williamson especially the need for a sidewalk on Earls Road. With the increased traffic brought on by development in the area biking and walking facilities need to be installed sooner than later. It’s an investment not an expense.
I am delighted to read about concerns around pedestrian safety and safe walkways in Huntsville, and am appreciative of ongoing discussions around this subject.
I am a walker and see several roads around Huntsville that would be wonderful to walk along. I have attempted to walk along some of them, but am reluctant to continue because of feeling unsafe or uncomfortable. Earl’s Road is one, Muskoka Road 3 is another. Huntsville and it’s outskirts offer many beautiful opportunities to be regularly in nature as we walk to and from town. I would love to safely bike or walk along these routes, but even with the new paved shoulder on Muskoka Rd, 3 it is still a tight walk.
When I am in Whistler I love walking along meandering trails from one destination to another. When I drive into Bracebridge along High Fall’s Road and reach Manitoba Street, I am impressed with the walking trail that takes you right into town. These are features that if added to Huntsville would totally enhance the Huntsville experience.
So keep the discussions going and let’s work towards making Huntsville a more walkable town.
Glad to hear the town is looking at this. I see pedestrians along hwy 60 on a regular basis. Many of them appear to be dressed for work. Given that this is likely a routine journey for many, I would love to see a route for them that is safer and ideally more pleasant as well.
As Bill has pointed out, the Great Trail, or more appropriately named Cross Canada Trail, has some hazardous spots around the Hwy 60/King William area. Creative walkers can find a way, wiggling through Muskoka Landing pathways, although not even sure how legal that is. Thank goodness a solution is being sought before someone die’s trying to navigate between Fairyview Drive, at either end, and downtown. Multiple complicated pieces to resolve in that area.
It is commendable to see Huntsville municipal authorities examining pedestrian safety in our community. The photo of Hwy 60 featured in the Doppler coverage could well have mentioned that the Trans Canada Trail crosses Hwy 60 at the traffic lights in the photo. Also the side of Hwy 60 shown in the photo is part of Ontario’s Park to Park Trail from Killbear Provincial Park on Georgian Bay to Algonquin Provincial Park. See the route map at https://thegreatcanadianwilderness.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/P2P-map.jpg. We are fortunate to have both of these long distance trails going through Huntsville. Because of the promotion of long distance hiking by our governments it seems appropriate that the Ontario government assessments and operational reviews of the proposed sidewalks should take into account that the route along Hwy 60 in Huntsville may well have the highest concentration of pedestrian traffic along the entire trail system. It also would be helpful to future public understanding if Doppler would add future mapping coverage of the location of the trails in this part of Huntsville.