Concerns about traffic flow are behind a plan to ban left turns along a section of Elm Street downtown near the CP Rail crossing.
A motion headed to the operations committee next week would outlaw westbound traffic coming from the tracks from turning into a private entrance between 101 and 105 Elm Street.
The problem is vehicles that stop to try and turn left will hold up traffic behind them, creating a situation where cars could be stuck on the tracks when a train is approaching.
“Transport Canada issued the City of Greater Sudbury a Letter of Non-Compliance on June 20, 2018, regarding the Canadian Pacific Railway crossing on Elm Street between Frood Road and Pine Street,” the staff report on the issue says. “The concern brought forward was when west bound vehicles stopped to turn left into the private entrance ... would end up queued on the rail crossing.”
City, federal and CP representatives met last summer to review the issue and come up with solutions.
“Discussions were ongoing through 2018 and 2019 and as a first step, Transport Canada indicated that left turns off Elm Street into this private lot would have to be prohibited,” the report said. “If the restriction did not prove effective, a physical deterrent would need to be constructed to restrict the left turns.”
Once the ban is in place, staff will monitor whether drivers follow the new rules to determine whether more steps are required.
