HomeMy WebLinkAboutWD-211-79 No. '211
TOWN OF NEWCASTLI: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
Director' s Report to Public Works Committee.
Item: Resolution # W-190-79
Date: October 23, 1979.
Subject: Highway 401 - Signing for Mosport Park.
Background:
Correspondence was received from Mr. J.J. Bourke, General Manager of the
Flying Dutchman Motor Inn, requesting that signs be erected on Highway 401.
indicating Liberty Street as a second and alternate route to Mosport Park.
At present, and Following previous requests to the Ministry of Transportation
& Communications, Mosport Park is signed, on Highway 401, by the use of
a folding-type sign with the message "Mosport Auto Raceway - Exit at Waverley
Road"; these signs are opened and in use prior to, and during, major events
at Mosport.
Resolution # W-190-79 stated:
"THAT, in reply to the letter from Mr. James J. Bourke, General
Manager of the Flying Dutchman Motor Inn, dated July 24, 1979,
relative to Mosport Signs on Highway 401, he be advised that the
Town is requesting the Ministry of Transportation & Communications
to sign Highway 401 as "Mosport Raceway - Next Two Exits".
Report:
In correspondence dated October 10, 1979 (attached) the Ministry of Transport-
ation & Communications acknowledges Resolution # W-190-79; however the terms
of the resolution, and the request contained therein, are in conflict with
established Ministry policy and the request is denied. A full explanation of
the matter is contained in the letter from the Ministry.
It would appear that any additional signs for Mosport Raceway would'be con-
sidered to be a form of advertising and that, in allowing such signing in
No. 211 _ 2 -
V
response to the request from Mr. Bourke, a precedent would be set. The major
concern expressed by Mr. Bourke was that, by directing traffic from Highway
.401, via Waverley Road (Regional Road 57) to Mosport Park, his establishment
is by-passed by the travelling public and that business potential could be
affected.
The Ministry points out that the existing signing for Mosport Park is already
an exception to established Ministry policy as the facility is a permanent
one and has been in operation for a number of years. The Ministry does advise,
however, that businessmen on Liberty Street and in the Downtown area of
Bowmanville itself, have the option of erecting field advertising along the
Highway, or Regional Road 57, to inform motorists of their location and
services.
Conclusion:
Clearly Resolution # W-190-79 is in direct conflict with the signing policy
of the Ministry of Transportation & Communications and can not, therefore, be
enacted upon.
The intent of any signing is to provide clear direction and safe traffic
flows for the travelling public; the present signing for Mosport from Highwa
401 appears to be meeting this criteria and has proved efficient during the y
past season of events.
1
I
:vh
j
i
i
1
Y
Ontario
Ministry of 416- 248- 3474
Transportation and
Communications
Central Region Traffic , f
3501 Dufferin Street ,
Downsview , Ontario ,
113 K 1 N6 .
Mrs . t; . L- . Gray ,
Deputy Clerk/Committee Secretary , t`
Town of Newcastle ,
40 Temperance Street ,
Dowmanville , Ontario ,
L 1 C 3A6 . i
October 10 , 1979 ,
t
Dear Mrs . Gray ,
Highway 401 - Signing through the Town of Newcastle ,
______________ Signing of I�losport .
------- -----------------------
This is further to your letter of August 14 , 1979 ,
requesting the signing of "1-iosport Auto Raceway ,
Next Two Exits " , on Highway 401 to allow motorists
to exit at either Wa verley Road or Liberty Street .
11-1e request was forw"irded to the 11-inist:ry 13 traffic
Signing Section for presentution to the Highway
Signing Committee . The Traffic Signing Section did
not believe it was necessary to bring the matter j (
before the highway Signing Committee as there is an
established policy on the method of signing the
llosport type of establishment as a Hajor Sports Event
or Ha
Jor Sports Attraction. This s o
e t � f
YI igning
permit:; :signing from the freowriy v.io only ono exit
for any particular direction of traffic .
i
I'lul t.ip .le ex.i LS a ro signed only for mun.i cipal..i t.ios
to indicate the number of interchanges serving the
populated area of the municipality . Rowmanville
is signed as the "Next. It"(', Exits " for Waverley Road
and Liberty Street: . :1
The type of signing approved for ilosport is being
used only since the lack of' direct-ion to the fac-
ility coUld COMBO a (1antlerou:) ant) cr�nft_isintl Situation
to the travelling pub.tic . It should be noted that the
Ilosport signing is already an exception to (Ministry
policy since 110sport is a permanent facility and has
been estah.l ished for a number of, years . Ill te1'n;ILe -:'
Mrs . G . F . gray . October 101 1919 .
----------------------------------------
i
route signing would not accomplish much since
in most cases a stranger would pr.obnb.ly take
the first exit signed while someone familiar
with the area would take his own preferred
route regardless of the signing .
The provision of alternate route signing would
be considered a form of advertising for the
raceway and would establish an undesirable pre- a
cedent whereby other establishments of this
type would expect similar considernL.i.on. The
Ministry io not in the advertising business but
attempts to sign the freeway in order that a
motorist can determine his exit, in advance and
then make the move with confidence . Any. moment-
ary indecision by a motorist travelling at high
speed would lead to a dangerous situation . For
this reason as wall as nn attempt to improve the
congestion experienced in Bowianville during Hos-
port events the route to MOsPort was signed via
Waverley Rand. As a result the Ministry will
le" ve the Nosport signing as i t. now exists and
not sign Liberty Street as an alternative exit . i
The businessmen on Liberty Street and in the
Downtown area of Howmnnvi tle have the option of
erecting field advertising along Highway 401 or
along Wnverley Road to .inform motorists of their
location and services . !
'.i
1 trust this explains the siLunt.ion• if there are
any questions , Please contact this
office .
Yours truly ,
P . J . Howes ,
i
Area Trnffic Analyst ,
for : !I
R. A . Shannon , jl
1
Reg ionaI ( raffie Lngineer .
1
�i
COR110RATION OF IIIE TOWN 01 NEWCASTLE li
1.�r1 OFFICE OF THE TOWN CLERK +
C 40 TFMt't-RANCE STR( t:7 TELEPHONE 623.3379
BOWMANVILLE, ONIARIO
)I L I C 3A6
November 6, 1979
Mr. James Bourke
General Manager
Flying Dutchman Motor Inn
Liberty Street South
Bowmanville, Ontario
Dear Mr. Bourke:-
. .
I
Re: Mosport Signing - Highway 401
The following recommendation of the Public Works Committee
was adopted by Council on November 5, 1979:
"THAT the letter from the Ministry of Transportation
and Communications dated October 10, 1979, relative
to Highway 401, Signing for Mosport through the Town
of Newcastle, be received for Information and Mr. Bourke
General Manager of the Flying Dutchman Motor Inn be
advised that the Ministry cannot comply with his request
i� regarding the signing of 401 and point out that he has
the option of erecting field advertising along the
Highway or Regional Road 57 to inform motorists of
his location and services".
A copy of the letter from the Ministry is attached hereto for
your information.
Yours very truly,
i
i
Gertrude E. Gray
Deputy Clerk/Committee Secretary � V[L','
99 I
C.C. Director of Public Works NOV 19 9
Mr. P.J. Howes, M.T.C.
V)QRICS IiC_
TOWN OF NEWCi,