j V ThoCanadian Champion, Fniday, APriI 2, 1999 - 9 Councillors can't agree on which roads should become safety zones Vol-,,'Photo by GRAHAM PAINE For a ood cause Cathy Roberge (lt) and Kathy Huffman of th. Beta Sigmna Phi Sororlty voluntoered their turne selllng dat- fodls for the Cancer Society Saturday at Milton Mail. By IRENE GENTLE The Champion Designating certain areas of Milton community safety zones turned into a wild ride for coun- cillors recently. Squabbles erupted when counicillors dis- agreed on which strips of road should become pilot test sites for the new safety zones. Under the Hlighway Traffie Act munici- palities sre now empowered to declsre cer- tain areas community safety zones as a tool to curb aggressive driving. Under thc new ies, speeding fines casi be doubled in these zones, although demerit points remain unchsnged. When the dust settled, a staff report rec- ommending four specific zones ws deferred by members of the Town's coin- munity services committee. "Mhis seems to be shaping up forsa war," commented Councillor Art Melanson after the vote. The deferral means the players will go back to the drav.ing board before returning to committee with fresh recommendations in abut six weeks. The original report cited community safety zones on Woodward Avenue from Briar Crescent to Joyce Boulevard; Wilson Drive to. McKenzie Drive; Campbellville Avenue est of Guelph Line to Wbeelihan Way; and Lower Base RIck Malboeuf Line between Fifth Line and Sixth Line. The report was drafted by staff in part- nership with various community consulta- lion groupa. Ail but one of thc suggested zones mun alongaide schools and parka. The excep- tion was Lowcr Base Line, which despite a fairly Iow traffic flow, is saddled wiUi a high accident rate. The choices didn't ait weil with council- lors, many of whom had their own ideas about which areas should he considered. Councillor John Challinor suggested Uiat Ontario Street by E.C. Dmury High School become a test site for Uic pilot project. High speeda, heavy traffic and thc prox- imity to Uic high achool make it an obvious choice, hie said. Tumning Ontario Street into a safety zone would look like a cash grab to Milton resi- dents, argued Councillor Rick Malbocuf. "You can drive on Uiat road and no one is doing 50 (kms per hour)," hie said. "It would look like s cash drive if we had a cop sitting there with a radar every day. They could nail every car." The Town doesn't profit froro money collected from traffic tickets, responded Mr. Challinor. 'INis not a question of a cash cow for Milton," he sald. "We don't sec any of Uiat money." Councillor Wally Hunter favoured Martin Street as a safety zone. "My read on this issue is it should be in areas that are obvious and where Uiere are a lot of children at risk," hie said. Martin Street also got Councillor Ron Furik's vote. Town staffer Phil Antonio said Iow -se. BACK on page 20 hi