Woolwich Mayor Shantz wants solutions for Elmira truck traffic

It has been 10 years since Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz campaigned to divert large trucks from Elmira’s Arthur Street and she expected to see a report on the matter last fall.

“This is a long time for the community to wait, and you can’t stand on our main street and have a conversation,” she said Wednesday at a regional planning and public works committee meeting.

“We’re now at council moving ahead much more deliberately with a downtown redevelopment plan, and part of that needs to get the trucks off the main street.”

Shantz said she was originally told it would take two years to do the report.

“Presumably in these two years leading up to last fall, there was work done by staff,” she said. “So what’s the holdup at this point? We’re waiting for another year. That’s three years plus the previous six, I guess, since I came on.”

Employee turnover has led to delays, said regional staff, who apologized to Shantz.

“We do know this is a priority for you and the residents of Woolwich to create that wonderful community space in your downtown and remove the trucks from going through that area,” said Jennifer Rose, commissioner of engineering and environmental services.

“You are right, we did say that we would have some information for you in the fall … however, now with our acting commissioner on board, we had a conversation this morning and he’s going to put some pressure on the staff to get working on that report so that we can have that information for you.”

Two reports expected in August will look at possible ways of diverting truck traffic from the downtown areas of Elmira and Ayr, respectively.

Coun. Colleen James, planning committee chair, confirmed the Elmira matter was put on the tracking list.

In Elmira, a truck bypass needs to be established, whereas in Ayr, much of the issue could be resolved if trucks were using Trussler Road like they’re supposed to, according North Dumfries Mayor Sue Foxton, who thinks some signs might help.

A motion by Coun. Kari Williams, supported by council, seeks shorter, interim solutions for the Ayr core. Longer term studies on the local road network will be incorporated as part of the 2025 budget process, according to staff, with the ultimate goal of making the downtown “livable and workable for everyone,” Williams said.

Regional staff to bring back report later this year along with ways to help Ayr’s core