Major street might lose a lane in the name of road safety in Mississauga
Published May 29, 2024 at 3:43 pm
Public engagement is ramping up as a pilot project that has dramatically changed traffic flow on a busy street in Mississauga’s north end gets closer to becoming a permanent road safety solution.
Under the trial run, a large stretch of Aquitaine Avenue in Meadowvale has undergone major changes — including the elimination of one lane of traffic — in efforts to improve safety for drivers, pedestrians and cyclists.
The City of Mississauga’s Aquitaine Avenue Road Safety Pilot Project, which reduced a section of the busy four-lane road to three lanes as of last summer in an effort to make it safer and reduce speeding, is among a number of road safety improvement initiatives taking place across the city.
Before the significant changes to Aquitaine Avenue introduced by the ongoing road safety pilot become permanent, though, city officials want to hear yet again from area residents.
Following four information pop-ups held in March and April, the city will host an in-person public information session this Thursday night from 6 to 8 p.m.
The purpose of the May 30 gathering, city officials said, is to update residents on the status of the major project. The session is being held at Praise Cathedral Worship Centre, at 6785 Millcreek Dr.
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Map shows Aquitaine Avenue, between Tenth Line West and Millcreek Drive.
The city said in a post to social media every street should be safe for all residents and “that’s why we’ve modified Aquitaine Avenue to a three-lane system with bike lanes, parking spaces and a left-turn lane.”
One person who commented on the post doesn’t appear to be a fan of the project, writing “Making life more difficult for drivers. Again. Just like the proposal for Bloor Street” in east Mississauga.
Another person responded in defence of the road safety initiative.
“These three-lane models have been proven to make traffic flow way more efficient and I think what you meant to say was making the road safer and more tolerable for everyone,” the commenter said, pointing to drivers, cyclists and pedestrians as beneficiaries of the changes.
Proposed changes to the major Meadowvale road, which also include the addition of dedicated bicycle lanes, left-turn lanes and parking spaces, have already garnered significant attention from area residents over the past number of months.
Before making the changes permanent, city officials want another round of public engagement in which they can further explain to residents how the redesign makes the road safer.
Officials add they also welcome and will respond to any additional feedback from people.
Moving forward, at least one more public information session is planned for later this year in the fall.
City officials said earlier they’ll gather public feedback while monitoring the impact of the pilot study throughout 2024 “to inform a permanent future road reconstruction.”
“This traffic calming measure will help reduce speeding on the roadway by narrowing the road and help keep traffic at a slower speed. As part of the pilot, on-road protected bike lanes, dedicated vehicle parking lanes and a dedicated centre/left turn lane (were) added on various sections of Aquitaine Avenue,” city officials said in an earlier online project update.
The changes have been implemented on Aquitaine Avenue between Tenth Line West in west Meadowvale and Millcreek Drive, by Meadowvale GO station.
One section of the busy roadway passes by Meadowvale Town Centre, where both pedestrian and vehicle traffic are heavy.
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