Request Province to Expedite Closure of SCRF

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

CITY OF HAMILTON
NOTICE OF MOTION to be debated on November 12, 2025. Residents are encouraged to submit their comments, and or experiences to clerk@hamilton.ca and please include your home’s proximity to the landfill i.e. 1k, 2k, 3k etc.


General Issues Committee Date: October 22, 2025
MOVED BY COUNCILLOR B. CLARK……………………………..………………………….
Request for the Closure of the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility, 65 Green
Mountain Rd. W., Stoney Creek


WHEREAS, the Minister of Education has recently notified the Hamilton Wentworth
District School Board that the previously approved site for the Nash Neighbourhood
School is “unsuitable” for school children;

WHEREAS, several hundred children live with their families within 3 km of the GFL
landfill are experiencing these offensive odours daily;

WHEREAS, given that the Provincial Government has deemed the Nash
Neighbourhood future school site to be “unsuitable” for students due to the persistent
odour nuisance of almost three years;

WHEREAS, residents are now questioning the suitability of living in their homes, several
hundreds of which are older than the landfill;

WHEREAS, the Ministry of Environment Conservation and Parks charged GFL for only
three odour complaints from 2023 out of several thousand over three years; and

WHEREAS, the Ward 9, 5 and 10 Councillors can attest that these Hydrogen Sulfide
odours have continued and were excessively strong this past week.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED:
That the Mayor and City Council respectfully request that the Premier and his Cabinet
direct the Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks, to begin the process to
expedite the closure of the GFL Stoney Creek Regional Facility, 65 Green Mountain Rd.
W., Stoney Creek

Photo-radar ban threatens speeding crackdown on collision-prone Upper Centennial Parkway

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark
The city plans to add a speed camera on a stretch of Upper Stoney Creek parkway, where four people died this year — unless Ontario bans the technology this month.

Courtesy of The Hamilton Spectator

By Matthew Van Dongen

A looming photo-radar ban will prevent Hamilton from adding speed cameras on collision-prone Upper Centennial Parkway, where four people have died in crashes this year.

City council approved plans in September to double its four-camera arsenal and add one of the automated speed enforcement (ASE) boxes along the parkway atop the Stoney Creek Mountain.

A new parkway safety study — requested after a double-fatal collision near the intersection of Highgate Drive — showed average driving speed above the limit and concerning clusters of collisions at intersections along the route.

But late last month, Premier Doug Ford announced he would ban the “cash grab” speed cameras after the provincial legislature reconvenes Oct. 20 — despite growing protests by dozens of cities supportive of photo-radar, including Hamilton.

Ward councillor Brad Clark said he will be “heartbroken” if the threatened ban axes a safety measure at least some residents are clamouring for on the increasingly busy parkway.

“We have experienced fatalities on that road; families have lost loved ones because of speeding on that road,” he said in an interview. “We have a tool to slow people down — one that has proven to be effective — and you’re going to prevent us from using it?”

Speed cameras by the numbers in 2025

3,516 Tickets handed out by Hamilton cameras this year (through end of August)

1,114 Location with most tickets (Highland Road, west of Upper Centennial)

$559,000 Ticket revenue from four rotating cameras (end of August)

27 per cent Percentage of additional drivers obeying speed limit after camera installation

More than 20 mayors, including Hamilton Mayor Andrea Horwath, submitted a written appeal to Ford last week to rethink the threatened ban. Ontario’s police chiefs, a study from Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children (SickKids) and Hamilton’s own camera data all point to the technology being effective in slowing speeders.

The premier responded swiftly in his own letter, scolding “greedy” municipalities for wanting to keep ticket revenues and vowing instead to fund traffic-calming infrastructure like speed bumps to bring speeding “down to zero.”

Hamilton already uses its revenues from speed tickets exclusively to pay for traffic safety improvements, noted Clark.

But the larger challenge on Upper Centennial, he added, is that the former provincial highway above the escarpment has speed limits between 60 and 70 km/h.

City traffic staff have said they cannot recommend speed bumps on arterial roads that are designed to move traffic more quickly and efficiently.

The planned new speed camera is supposed to be located on the parkway between Rymal and Highland roads.

The recent safety study showed 15 out of every 100 drivers were travelling faster than 92 km/h — or more than 22 kilometres over the posted limit — in a stretch of the parkway bookended by the two latest fatal crashes on Upper Centennial.

In August, two people died in a fiery two-car crash near Highgate Drive, the entrance to a small suburban enclave. Nearby, family members set up a roadside memorial for one of the victims, Joey Majerovich.

The status of that police investigation was unclear Friday. But a ward office update to residents said in that crash, it appeared a driver lost control while turning onto the parkway.

Just less three months earlier, a multi-vehicle collision killed a driver and passenger in a car on the parkway between Green Mountain Road and Mud Street.

Police later charged a 32-year-old Hamilton man with impaired and dangerous driving, as well as Highway Traffic Act charges alleging stunt driving and speeding over 140 km/h in a 70 km/h zone.

People are fed up with the “terrifying” speeding and road-racing that happens along the corridor, said near-parkway resident Alisa Bennett-Infanti.

“The drag racers keep me awake at night,” she said in an interview.

Bennett-Infanti called it a “mistake” for the province to axe speed cameras, “especially in school zones,” expressing hope the premier will reconsider and allow installation along Upper Centennial.

But she added automated enforcement can only do so much — so she is hoping the province comes through regardless on funding pricier road-design changes like traffic circles that force “straight line road racers” to slow down.

“We also need more police enforcement to catch these people who do not care — about cameras, the law, other people on the road,” she said.

“Speed cameras work great for people like me — but those (people) driving drunk at twice the limit at midnight, they don’t care about cameras.”

In the aftermath of the latest double-fatal on Centennial, Hamilton police ramped up in-person enforcement, issuing 57 traffic charges related to speeding, stunt driving and other unsafe behaviour in a crackdown in mid-September.

The city is also planning other road and traffic safety improvements, said Clark, including redesigned intersections and lowering the parkway speed limit to 60 km/h from the edge of the escarpment to Rymal Road.

But physical infrastructure changes take time, he said, and a speed camera could go into action within weeks — if the province lets it happen.

“I am appealing to the premier to be flexible,” Clark said, noting more and more municipal leaders are pressuring the government to reach a compromise. “We only have so many tools to slow people down on this roadway and we’re about to lose one of them.”

Speed Study Results – Upper Centennial

Posted on by Councillor Brad Clark

Please see the following speed data results that can be shared.

  1. Summary of any speed data collected on Upper Centennial Parkway between Ridge Rd. & Rymal Rd: See attached “Summary” excel sheet for more information

Location DescriptionAvg Speed (km/h)85th %tile (km/h)Year
Upper Centennial Pkwy – Ridge Road to Rymal Road
Upper Centennial Pkwy btwn Highland Rd and Mud St78.492.32025
Upper Centennial Pkwy btwn Highgate Dr and Fortinos Access65.276.42025
Upper Centennial Pkwy btwn Green Mountain Rd and Ridge Rd74.287.92024
Upper Centennial Pkwy, between Green Mountain Rd and Mud St6475.6201

Improving Safety on Upper Centennial Parkway

Many of you have reached out with concerns about safety along Upper Centennial Parkway, especially following recent tragic collisions. We want to provide clear information about what has happened, what the City has reviewed, and the steps being taken to improve safety on this important corridor.

About Upper Centennial Parkway

Upper Centennial Parkway has long been one of the mountain’s most important north–south connections. Historically, it functioned as part of Highway 20, linking Hamilton with the Niagara Region. Following provincial highway downloading in the late 1990s, responsibility for the roadway shifted to the Region of Hamilton–Wentworth, and it was later assumed by the City of Hamilton.

For many years, Upper Centennial Parkway served mainly as a regional connector. However, with the rapid growth of Upper Stoney Creek, its role has changed dramatically. New neighbourhoods, schools, parks, and commercial plazas have increased the number of local trips along the corridor, while it continues to carry significant commuter and goods movement traffic. The result is a road that now functions as both a major arterial route and a community street, creating challenges for balancing mobility, safety, and access.

The primary opportunity for enhancing safety in the long term will be the planned reconstruction of Upper Centennial Parkway, which will urbanize the corridor and transition it from a former highway into a roadway more suitable for the evolving needs of the community. This reconstruction will allow for a design that prioritizes safety, active transportation, transit, and local access while still serving its role as a key arterial connection.

Recent Collisions

Sadly, Upper Centennial Parkway has seen two tragic collisions this year.

On August 28, 2025, a vehicle turning onto Upper Centennial Parkway near Highgate Avenue lost control, crossed into the northbound lanes, and struck another car. Two people were killed and two others were injured. Police have confirmed that the intersection itself was not a factor in this crash.

Earlier, on June 1, 2025, a three-vehicle collision further south on Upper Centennial Parkway also resulted in two fatalities. Following the investigation, Hamilton Police laid multiple charges against one of the drivers involved, including impaired and dangerous driving as well as excessive speeding.

These collisions have had a profound impact on our community and serve as a reminder of the importance of safe roadway design, effective enforcement, and responsible driving behaviour.

Police Enforcement

In response to the recent collisions and ongoing concerns about speeding and aggressive driving, Hamilton Police have increased their presence along Upper Centennial Parkway.

Between September 15 and 19, 2025, the Hamilton Police Traffic Safety Unit carried out a focused enforcement campaign. Over the course of just one week, officers issued 57 traffic-related charges, addressing offences such as speeding, stunt driving, and other unsafe behaviours.

This type of targeted enforcement is one of the immediate tools available to help improve safety on the roadway. While enforcement alone cannot prevent every collision, it plays an important role in holding drivers accountable and reinforcing the need for responsible driving.

What the City Has Reviewed

  • Collision history (2020–2024): Data shows a variety of collision types across the corridor, with particular concentrations at Green Mountain Road, Mud Street, and Highland Road.
  • Speed data (2024–2025): Average speeds range between 65–78 km/h, with 85th percentile speeds as high as 92 km/h. This reinforces the need to address speeding along the corridor.
  • Traffic signal warrant at Highgate Drive (April 2025): A full study was completed, and results showed a traffic signal was not warranted based on provincial guidelines.

Improvements Already Made

In recent years, the City has implemented a number of safety and operational upgrades on Upper Centennial Parkway, including:

  • New traffic signal north of Mud Street (2023).
  • Modernized traffic signals at Rymal Road (2021) and Mud Street (2020–2022).
  • AODA accessibility upgrades, crosswalk ladder bars, and curb bump-outs at multiple intersections.
  • Speed limit reduction from 70 km/h to 60 km/h between Highland Road and Rymal Road (2016).
  • Additional warning flashers and “Signal Ahead” signage to improve driver awareness.

Planned Improvements

Looking ahead, several projects are planned:

  • Intersection modernization at Upper Centennial & Highland Road (design complete): will include new traffic signal hardware, accessibility treatments, and turn lane adjustments.
  • In-service road safety review at Mud Street (Fall 2025): short-term safety measures to be implemented immediately, with medium/long-term changes tied to the corridor’s future reconstruction.
  • Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE): Council approved rotation of ASE cameras on Upper Centennial between Highland and Rymal, though the program may be adjusted depending on Provincial legislation.
  • Full corridor reconstruction (2028): major rehabilitation projects between Mud Street and Green Mountain Road, and from Rymal to Mud Street, including road resurfacing, water/storm upgrades, and transit improvements.
  • Speed limit harmonization: The corridor is recommended to have a consistent posted speed of 60 km/h. By-law amendments will be processed in October, with signage changes to follow Council approval.

Commitment to Road Safety

Improving safety on Upper Centennial Parkway is part of the City’s broader commitment under the Vision Zero Action Plan. Vision Zero is a global approach that recognizes that serious injuries and deaths on our roadways are preventable, not inevitable.

Hamilton’s plan focuses on reducing high-risk behaviours like speeding and impaired driving, while also improving the design of our streets, expanding options for walking, cycling, and transit, and ensuring enforcement and education remain strong.

The goal is simple but ambitious: to eliminate traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries across Hamilton. Each project, whether large corridor reconstructions or smaller safety enhancements, is one step toward that goal.

Residents can expect that the safety upgrades being planned for Upper Centennial Parkway — combined with enforcement and ongoing monitoring — are part of this long-term, city-wide effort to make our streets safer for everyone.

Closing

Thank you to everyone who has shared concerns and observations. Your input helps guide where we focus improvements and ensures that safety remains at the forefront of decision-making. We will continue to provide updates as projects move forward.