Slow Down, please

Bloomfield residents still grapple with speeding

Patrick Maloney, has an extensive background in traffic issues, and is part of a group addressing speeding concerns in Bloomfield. As a longtime member of the Niagara Regional Bicycle Committee, Director of the Share the Road Coalition, President of the Grimsby Active Transportation Committee, Chair of the PEC Trails Committee, and a member of the Bloomfield Area Business Association, Maloney brings experience to the table.

Addressing village traffic was emphasized during the recent fall election and was a focal point of discussion at the candidates meeting held at Bloomfield’s Town Hall. A traffic report was commissioned in 2022 to assess the village’s traffic. Speeds exceeding 115 km/hr were recorded at all three measured spots, as well as a staggering 11,000 enforceable speed traffic violations in just one week in a single location. Amid growing concerns, residents and Maloney are calling for a public meeting with councillors and County officials to address the traffic issue. Taking measures into their own hands, residents have installed 100 CAA “Slow Down, Please” signs on their properties, which seemed to have had some effect so far says Maloney.

While the results were alarming, the report only recommended a limited reduction in speed for only a section of Main Street. The Traffic Advisory Committee accepted these recommendations and requested further assessment of Stanley Street. However, progress has been limited since then, and may not go far enough, according to Maloney. Stanley Street, described as the fourth busiest road in the County as it is the link to the Sandbanks, has undergone substantial transformations in recent years, including the addition of a resurfaced Millennium Trail, new breweries, the Baxter Arts Centre, and various businesses. Maloney stresses the need for comprehensive action and collaboration with the community.

Maloney emphasizes the “15 km/h rule of thumb,” citing discussions with Niagara Regional Police and the OPP, who assert that most drivers tend to exceed the speed limit by no more than 15 km/h. He suggests considering a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h for the village, reinforcing the importance of community safety.

Unwilling to let the issue fade away, residents, alongside members of the Bloomfield Area Business Association, conducted a survey with 145 properties. Ninety-one per cent of respondents identified traffic as a major concern, with 88 per cent advocating for a reduced speed limit of 40 km/h throughout the entire village.