07-31-2020, 08:40 AM
(07-31-2020, 07:38 AM)ijmorlan Wrote:(07-31-2020, 06:57 AM)danbrotherston Wrote: Not only is the limit on Westmount (as is the case in many "arterial" roads) 50km/h, it is also a residential street, where traffic should be slowed.
Saying it is residential, while true, is also misleading. It is a 4-lane road that was built for the purpose of moving motor vehicle traffic (although I think that it, like almost all others in the Region, should be 2-lane with turn lanes). Calling it residential makes it sound like it is the same as Roslin Ave. or Empire St., which it is not.
Although thinking about it, if it were rezoned appropriately (mixed used including midrises), it would soon have so much going on that it would probably be more like Danforth Ave. in Toronto, and nobody would ever have the opportunity to get up to 60km/h.
Actually, I don't know the history of the road, but I have no idea if it was built to move motor vehicle traffic, or if it was built before that was the singular purpose of roads.
But I don't really care, it's archaic purpose has no relevance to what we make of it today. What I do know is that the road has houses on it--it cuts through a neighbourhood, and while it has been made a main road that purpose must be balanced against the people who live in that neighbourhood. I have no problem slowing traffic down to 50 or even 40 in the sections which are residential.
Frankly, I don't really think any of our urban arterial roads should be above 50km/h anyway. We need better roads, not faster roads.