Sir: Most riders on the Route 1 bus will welcome input from the Transportation Division regarding the troublesome intersection of Poplar and Sandys. Many riders might also wonder why the Transportation Division has apparently been unable to identify the problem, focus on it, and rectify it swiftly on its own accord. Instead, the Transportation Division has allowed the problem at that intersection to fester for months, if not years.
The division is now busily engaged in determining whether a simple re-routing of the Route 1 bus may be a simple solution to a problem that has frustrated Route 1 riders for a long time. We can only hope that the division will also don its thinking cap and come up with more solutions to the myriad problems plaguing Route 1, problems that have also been festering for quite some time.
In a letter to the Transportation Division dated July 8, I made a few suggestions for improvement. In addition to four-way stop signs or traffic lights at the Poplar and Sandys intersection, re-routing the Route 1 bus from Sheldon along Wilson and Fielder to Sandys might be one of the solutions.
The Transportation Division should consider what the reaction by residents of those streets might be to increased traffic along those streets. It should be noted that there is a significant “S” curve joining those two streets. Negotiating the “S” curve might cause considerable jostling and discomfort to passengers, and possible injury, especially to those who happen to be standing. In winter conditions, the bus would run the risk of losing control at that point, perhaps resulting in passenger injury.
Another suggestion was to re-route the Route 1 bus along McNaughton to Sandys, turning left on Sandys at the traffic lights. The Route 1 bus also experiences frequent delays when leaving the shelter on McNaughton and attempting to immediately move into the left lane in order to turn onto Sheldon. Allowing the Route 1 bus the opportunity to move smoothly into the left lane and take advantage of the traffic lights at Sandys would be a considerable timesaver.
Doing nothing to ameliorate such issues facing the drivers and passengers on Route 1 is unacceptable.
Bill Zock
Chatham
