The County will undertake a technical evaluation of pedestrian and vehicle safety along County Road 7 at Lake on the Mountain.
At the August 17 Council meeting, Council directed staff to prepare a report that includes a technical evaluation of pedestrian activity in the Lake on the Mountain area. The municipality is undertaking this work in response to the concerns voiced by some residents and businesses about the parking restrictions recently implemented on the public roadway in this area. The interim parking restrictions were based on past experience at this location and had the original objective of ensuring road safety during the 2021 season. The technical evaluation will provide additional information that will inform long-term options at Lake on the Mountain that balance safety concerns with concerns about access and parking in this area.
The staff report will provide recommendations on safety and traffic options that could be implemented before the 2022 summer season.
The motion to undertake the evaluation was proposed by Councillor Ernest Margetson. “This is an area that lends itself to a high volume of pedestrian activity, combined with the vehicular traffic aspects of a County collector road with rural standards, and the activities of the adjacent land uses and attractions,” said Councillor Margetson. “The goal here to provide sound technical analysis and recommendations for safety of both pedestrians and vehicular traffic in a popular area that is a very important part of the County fabric.”
In April 2021, Council approved a seasonal no parking zone on both sides of County Road 7 from civic addresses 230 to 326. This was an interim solution to address pedestrian safety in this challenging area during high tourism season. Each day, hundreds of pedestrians cross the road along this stretch of County Road 7, putting them in the path of uncontrolled vehicle traffic. Getting across the road safely is particularly challenging for people with mobility or physical disabilities. Parking along the roadsides makes it difficult for drivers to see pedestrians who step out to cross the road, further increasing the risk of pedestrian injury or fatality.
The technical evaluation of County Road 7 at Lake on the Mountain, conducted by a third party, would begin as soon as possible in order to observe the location during this year’s high tourism season and to allow for options that could be implemented before the start of the 2022 summer season.
Staff have also begun the process of evaluating the results of the 2021 Tourism Management Plan and will provide recommendations to Council for County-wide adjustments for the 2022 season at the October 14 Committee of the Whole meeting.
For more information, contact the County of Prince Edward at 613.476.2148 extension 1023, 613.962.9108 extension 1023, or info@pecounty.on.ca.