Town of Collingwood, Ontario, Canada

Collingwood Council has voted to move forward with a two year plan that will see the reconstruction of a new, five lane First Street. While the town's new 1009 budget has yet to be finalized, funding in the amount of 3.8 million dollars for the First Street reconstruction project for 2009 was approved in a 7-2 vote at Collingwood Council on Monday January 12th. The province will kick in 2.5 million dollars in 2009.

The choice to move forward represents a compromise at the council table. Mayor Chris Carrier and Councilor Sonney Foley voted against the five lane proposal. Councilor Foley stated that moving forward with this design represented one of the worst things that council could have possibly done for the community. Foley is worried that the five lane design, without traffic islands, represents a safety risk to pedestrians. He reminded everyone that Collingwood's active transportation policy was designed to put pedestrians first. Mr. Foley feels that the five lane First Street plan falls far short of living up to the intent of the transportation policy.

Councilor Ian Chadwick voted in favour of the five lane design, while Councilors Kathy Jeffery and Norm Sandberg voted for the project to move forward but stated that they remain against the proposed design. Sandberg agrees that the five lane design will improve traffic flow, but said that the town deserves a better plan.

Previously, Town of Collingwood Mayor Chris Carrier and Collus Executive Director Ed Houghton had met with Ministry of Transportation officials to discuss the future of First Street. The Ministry of Transportation had turned down Collingwood's plan to build traffic islands on First Street. As a part of First Street redevelopment, traffic islands were proposed to provide added safety for people on scooters, in wheelchairs or for elderly people who can't get across the street during a light change. The proposed construction of traffic islands would require that the sidewalks be moved back along First Street. First Street is a connecting link of Highway 26 which is why the Ministry of Transportation has to be involved in the design approval process.

Plans for a new and improved First Street will include new landscaping and a centre turning lane to allow for safer access to sidestreets and businesses and to help keep the traffic moving in the regular lanes of traffic. The future of First Street would see access to new businesses from existing side streets to reduce the demand on the proposed new turning lane.