District and OPP Hosting Additional Community Forums in Muskoka to Plan Safe Roads Campaign

Posted on Wednesday March 28, 2018

Building on the success of a community stakeholder forum held in Bracebridge in March, the District of Muskoka and local OPP Detachments will host three additional community forums in April to help plan a Muskoka Safe Roads public education campaign.   The campaign is an opportunity to start an on-going dialogue with the community on a topic that is very important to everyone who lives in or visits Muskoka.  The goal of the forums is to hear from community members regarding road safety and learn about public education campaigns that have worked in other communities.

Community Forum Details:

Gravenhurst: Wednesday, April 11, 6:30-8:00 p.m.  Terry Fox Auditorium, Centennial Centre

Huntsville: Thursday, April 19, 6:30-8:00 p.m.   Active Living Centre, Canada Summit Centre

West Muskoka: Wednesday, April 25, 6:30-8:00 p.m.  MacTier Memorial Arena, 9 Haig Street, MacTier

Please RSVP: publicworks@muskoka.on.ca

“We had approx. 50 representatives from across Muskoka join us at the Bracebridge Forum – including the MTO, private sector and media partners, area municipal and district councillors, and most importantly – concerned community members who want to help move the campaign forward,” said Fred Jahn, Commissioner of Engineering and Public Works for the District of Muskoka.   “We are excited to be working with together to help make Muskoka’s roads the safest they can be.”   

“We look forward to continuing the conversation across Muskoka to learn more about each communities specific challenges and to generate more ideas for the campaign,” explained Inspector Brian Therrien, Bracebridge Detachment Commander, Ontario Provincial Police.   “Enforcement and regulations are only part of the solution.  A bigger part is tied to public education and changing behaviour.”

“We are looking for community-based solutions that will motivate drivers to slow down, share the road and be safe,” said Staff Sergeant John-Paul Graham, Huntsville Detachment Commander, Ontario Provincial Police.  “By working together we can help encourage drivers in all of our communities to look at their driving behavior and make good choices behind the wheel.”

While this dialogue with the community continues through the community forums in April, plans are already underway to implement some initial campaign strategies this spring and summer.  Working groups are being formed with volunteers from the community, private sector, media.

The District regularly hears from community members regarding road safety  and continues to receive requests for speed limit reductions or community safety zone.    Looking at 2017 OPP traffic data and public input from the Bracebridge forum, some of key challenges in Muskoka are linked to

    • Speeding and aggressive driving  
    • Distracted and impaired driving
    • Pedestrian and cyclist safety
    • Animal collisions
    • Sharing the road with emergency vehicles
    • Construction safety 

Anyone interested in attending the forums, participating in a working group, or learning more about the campaign can contact the District at publicworks@muskoka.on.ca

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