Aurora council is set to vote on establishing an automated speed enforcement pilot program at its meeting on Tuesday, Oct. 22.
The plan would see the town set up a two-year pilot program, and increase the number of community safety zones in town from four to 17.
Also on the agenda is Councillor Michael Thompson’s motion to call on York Region to expedite a St. John’s interchange at Highway 404, and plans for Aurora to host an Open Doors event in 2025.
Council is also to discuss funding for a comprehensive review of the town’s zoning bylaws, increasing parking time limits in parts of downtown Aurora, and York Regional Transit will be presenting its plan for some route changes in town in 2025.
Here’s what AuroraToday is keeping an eye on at the Oct. 22 committee of the whole meeting:
Automated speed enforcement program
Council is looking at implementing a two-year pilot program for automated speed enforcement, as well as adding more community safety zone designations outside schools.
Council gave initial approval to a plan that would would designate town roads with schools as community safety zones, and set up the pilot, at its committee of the whole meeting on Oct. 1.
Currently, the town has four community safety zones, which are designated stretches of road that allow for the doubling of fines if road users are caught speeding. This plan would bring the number to 17.
The majority of York Region municipalities are in the process of developing their own programs, with the Town of Newmarket installing its first automated speed cameras last month.
If approved, staff will come back to council with an implementation plan.
Councillor calling for St. John’s Sideroad interchange
Council will also look at Councillor Thompson’s motion to call on York Region to move forward plans for an interchange at Highway 404 and St. John’s Sideroad
The region had identified the need for the interchange by 2051, in its transportation master plan.
But Thompson wants the region to bring that forward to before 2035, pointing to traffic and development in town.
His motion also asks town staff to prepare traffic data to bring to the region.
“Be it further resolved that the Town of Aurora meet with the Region of York to express the need for the interchange at Highway 404 and St. John’s to be constructed prior to 2035 and indicate to them that our preference would be that the interchange be built in the short term,” reads Thompson’s motion.
Aurora to welcome back in-person Doors Open?
Aurora will also look at bringing back in-person Doors Open events to town, after its heritage committee called for their return.
The last in-person Doors Open event, a provincewide initiative to have residents visit local culture and heritage destinations, took place in 2019.
Since then, the town has been participating in digital Doors Open.
Preparations were also underway for the 2020 event, but it was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The town is streaming the Oct. 22 council meeting at 7 p.m. You can watch on the town's YouTube page or attend in person at 100 John West Way.
You can speak at a meeting as a delegation by submitting a Delegation Request Form. To make a community presentation or send correspondence, email [email protected].
