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'I hate living here': Stouffville residents speak out against Reeves Way dangers

York Regional Police report there have been 17 accidents on road so far this year, councillor says

Yorkregion.com
August 6, 2019
Simon Martin

Seventeen accidents and counting on Reeves Way this year.

That was the number from York Regional Police according to Ward 6 Coun. Sue Sherban.

The traffic lights at Ninth Line; the guard rail by the GO Train tracks; the garage of a house; you name it and it has been part of an accident on Reeves Way.

The constant speeding and accidents on the road has reached a boiling point for residents on the road like Faraz Qureshi.

He bought his house more than 10 years ago.

“What a mistake. I hate living here,” he said. “Everyday people come speeding down the road trying to catch the green light (at Ninth Line)."

Nikki Parmer runs a daycare on the road and said it's not safe.

“People come off Ninth Line and come too fast. Nobody is driving 40 km/h” she said. “On Reeves Way all of the families have children.”

Lindsay Bantis has lived on Reeves Way for 12 years and said the predicament is getting progressively worse.

“I don’t know if there is any choice other than speed bumps," said Bantis, who has witnessed several cars crash into the guard rail by the train tracks. “It is insane."

"It’s only a matter of time before things turn tragic," she added.

Town council recently voted to implement temporary speed humps on Burkholder Street.

Residents on Reeves Way would like to see something similar for what they say is a bigger problem on a far busier street.

“Somebody important must live there,” Qureshi said of Burkholder Street. “It’s bad here. I would like to see a red light camera on Ninth Line and speed bumps.”

The intersection might only get worse when the new condos are built, Bantis said.

While Hoover Park has numerous stop signs to slow traffic down, Reeves way has a large stretch from Ninth Line going into the subdivision without a stop-sign.

Parmer lives near the rail crossings where several cars have run into the guard rail.

She said distracted driving is a big problem.

“They are on their cellphone right in front of my eyes,” she said.

A larger police presence in the area would be welcome, said Qureshi. He said he would like to see more radar operations during rush hour.

The issue has yet to come before council. Temporary seeds humps appear to be a relatively affordable option. The purchase price of the speed humps, speed bumps and associated signs on Burkholder Street was expected to be around $5,000.

Qureshi said the main issues on Reeves Way are at the west end of the road by Ninth Line.

Things are a lot more calm near Wendat Village Public School where there is a traffic circle to slow down traffic, he said.

Sherban, who is a Reeves Way resident, said speeding was a constant concern brought up by residents during the election campaign last year.

An electronic speed sign was recently installed which was a welcome addition to the road, but Qureshi said he still wants more.

Local resident Jennifer Zheng has a sign on her front lawn imploring drivers to slow down.

“I’m concerned about people driving too fast,” she said.

The cars come zipping off Ninth Line with little regard for their surroundings. Zheng’s garbage bins have been blasted into smithereens.

“It’s a problem at all hours.”