A slim majority of survey respondents on Barton Dr. said no to permanent speed bumps. (file photo/paNOW)

By Susan McNeil

Speeding on Barton Drive

P.A.’s Barton Drive residents turn down permanent speed bumps

Nov 15, 2023 | 6:00 AM

Despite an ongoing issue with excessive speeding on Prince Albert’s Barton Drive, more residents of the area were opposed to long term speed bumps than there were in favour.

As part of a deeper look into the multiple complaints of speeders on the street, the city asked residents what they thought this summer.

“The most important question now and moving forward is, ‘do you feel it is in the neighbourhood’s best interest to continue with permanent installation of the traffic calming measure’, to which 47 people replied no and 42 replied yes,” said Traffic Manager Evan Hastings.

In August, the city sent a six question survey to the residents to ask what they thought of the speed bumps. They handed out 194 surveys and got around 90 back, a high rate of return for surveys.

They also did a one week study of the speeds over the three sets of bumps they placed. They found that in one location near Coombe Drive, no change in speed was noted while between Eagle Street and Coombe, traffic slowed to 30 km/hour.

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At the third location near Eagle Crescent, the traffic was about 37 km/hour in the 40 zone.

Five vehicles were recorded in the week speeding at over 65 kms/hour.

After several years of complaints from people living there, Public Works staff put up some temporary speed bumps this spring as a test run.

While public works has said on multiple occasions that the numbers it has seen on the street do not meet the city’s own policy for traffic calming measures, Councillor Blake Edwards said there is an issue.

“There is a speeding problem on Barton and – not the average speed – but some of the speeds captured are near criminal,” said Edwards. “It’s a real shame. 118 kms was the fastest captured on our speed sign. That’s crazy.”

He said he saw videos of drivers going onto the curb to avoid the bumps or sit in front the bump and “burn rubber” to harass the families that have been asking for reduced speeds.

The issue was first raised to council in 2020 with one person comparing the street to a raceway.

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susan.mcneil@pattisonmedia.com