No left turns at Yonge and Wellington streets in Aurora takes effect

York Region's no left turn pilot project at Yonge Street and Wellington Street starts April 3.

Yorkregion.com
March 30, 2017
By Amanda Persico

The region’s left turn restriction from Yonge Street onto Wellington Street in Aurora starts April 3.

At the request of the town, York Region is conducting a no left turn pilot project for two months.

Drivers travelling north or southbound on Yonge Street will not be able to turn left on to Wellington Street between 7 and 9 a.m. and 4 and 6 p.m. Monday to Friday.

The left turn restriction does not apply to buses.

“This is part of the town’s continued effort to find long-term solutions in this corridor,” said town spokesperson Stephanie Mackenzie-Smith.

“It’s a limited pilot, limited to two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon.”

Traffic congestion and the makeup of the intersection itself, with no dedicated left turn lanes, are the reasons behind the pilot project.

The flow of north and southbound traffic is impeded by cars waiting to turn left, especially during peak traffic periods.

The goal is to help increase north-south traffic flow along Yonge Street.

The region will be measuring and monitoring traffic flows during the project and will evaluate and report the results.

In 2015, there were more than 25 collisions at this intersection.

Last fall, several Aurora councillors expressed concern over the project, citing limited east-west connections as it is.

There are concerns the left turn restrictions would increase traffic left turn queues at St. John’s Sideroad and Industrial Parkway, not to mention resident concerns traffic will be redirected to local residential streets.

York Regional Police are charged with monitoring the intersection for compliance and enforcement.

According to a regional report, the region implemented a three-month no left turn trial in 1998. At the end of the pilot project, the town went against recommendations from the region and eliminated the turn restrictions.

Current parking restrictions along Yonge Street remain in effect.

The two-month pilot project will run until June 2.

Residents and drivers travelling through the area are encouraged to provide feedback on the left turn restrictions. All comments will be logged and sent to the region.

To provide feedback, email leftturnpilot@aurora.ca or contact Access Aurora 905-727-1375.

For more information and for pilot project updates, visit aurora.ca/leftturnpilot