Isabel Mosseler
Tribune
Community voices have successfully preserved the stop signs installed temporarily on Main Street in the downtown core this past summer, after a strong public response led town council deciding to keep the signs in place for safety. The stop signs, originally added during road construction, were scheduled for removal once the work was completed. However, residents and businesses voiced strong support for keeping the signs, arguing that they significantly improved safety at the busy intersections.
Chief Administrative Officer Jay Barbeau outlined the original plan to remove the temporary stop signs, noting that they were not installed according to standard traffic policy and did not meet official traffic warrant requirements. “We work with current standards that are part of policy manuals (…) Our position at staff is that it doesn’t meet the standards,” Barbeau said, explaining that stop signs typically require specific traffic counts or conditions. However, he acknowledged that council could decide otherwise. “One of the things I would make a statement on is, certainly when we look at the standards and council wants to question whether those standards are appropriate for the location, that’s fine.”
Council did question its past decision, after a strong public outcry when the town announced it was going to be removing the signs. Riv Chip Stand owner Bruno Lepage advocated for leaving the signs, saying “it was a great help to slow traffic and increase safety for pedestrians” this past season. Celeste Auger Proulx agreed, adding “It has been so much easier navigating those blocks knowing cars will stop. It has made Main Street a lot safer for everyone.”
Downtown business owner Nadia Keough asked for permanent signs, saying they made pedestrians feel safer and facilitated driving downtown. “It is extremely hard to see upcoming traffic without the stop signs,” she opined. Louise Bradley Levasseur agreed, adding “These are corners that you have to crawl through to avoid an accident.” In fact, several people allude to past accidents or near misses at the busy downtown intersections.
Public support was clearly evident, with councillors echoing what they had heard from residents. Councillor Kris Rivard, initially hesitant about keeping the signs, changed his stance after speaking with community members. “I took the time to speak to quite a few of the businesses and residents who go around the downtown core quite a bit,” Rivard said. “There may have been two out of almost 100 people I asked who said that they didn’t want the stop signs (…). I feel safer as well when I’m trying to cross Main on Queen or William.”
Councillor Fern Pellerin also advocated for retaining the signs, emphasizing that they promote safety, not speed control. “I go to that intersection, and it is a safety concern. To me, it should have been done a long time ago,” said Pellerin, underscoring the need to ensure pedestrian safety downtown.
