Residents request traffic calming measures near Jardins Lavigne Park

One Aylmer resident wants the city to add traffic calming measures near the Jardins Lavigne Park.

“For my neighbours and me, the safety of residents near the entrance of the park on du Bois-Franc Avenue is a major preoccupation. It’s dangerous,” said Louise Terrillon-Mackay. “Vehicles turning onto Bois-Franc Avenue from either Wilfrid-Lavigne Boulevard or des Thuyas Avenue do so at high speeds. There’s also no stop sign at the Bois-Franc and des Thuyas intersection for vehicles turning onto Bois-Franc. It’s a miracle no one has been hurt.”

Ms Terrillon-Mackay wants the city to add a stop sign at that intersection and add signs asking motorists to slow down. She would also like to see a crosswalk or flexible traffic bollards near the park’s entrance.

“It’s a popular park. There are many activities hosted there and often vehicles are parked on both sides of Bois-Franc Avenue, which is used by cyclists, walkers, mothers with strollers, and so on. I asked (Lucerne) councillor Mike Duggan if something could be done to ensure vehicles slow down in that area. I was told the information was communicated to the city and that there were other priorities. I have not heard back since,” added Terrillon-Mackay.

Reached by the Bulletin, councillor Duggan said that the speed limit could certainly be reduced near the park to 30 km/h.

“This should not be too much of a struggle with the administration. If the city reduces the speed limit, then they would check the impact afterwards. Moreover, now that the area is fully built, we will look at tabling a comprehensive security plan for the whole neighbourhood to ensure there are crosswalks, traffic calming measures, etc.,” said Duggan.

In Gatineau, speed limits are posted as follows: 30 km/h: elementary school and playground zones, 40 km/h on residential side streets and 50 km/h and over on arteries and collectors.

The city states that “speed limits are not set arbitrarily. They are based on human physiological limitations (visual perception, reaction time, resistance to impact), the laws of physics (stopping distance, speed and strength of impact), and the roadway.”