Operations Committee Recommends Updated Traffic Rules, Water Meter Penalties & Transit Schedule Pilot
City committee recommends longer bus runs to cut delays, $150 fines for water meter refusals, and new traffic rules for growing east-side subdivision in its final meeting of 2025.
Owen Sound’s Operations Committee is recommending several changes to City Council following its December 18 meeting, including new traffic by-law amendments, updated fees for water meter holdouts, and a pilot project to improve on-time performance on city buses.
The meeting also featured a presentation from a resident urging a more pedestrian-friendly approach to traffic signal design.
Traffic By-law Amendments for New East Side Roads
The Committee endorsed a series of traffic by-law changes to reflect the City’s recent assumption of several roads in the East Ridge Business Park subdivision, developed by Andpet Realty.
These updates include:
New on-street parking prohibitions on several segments of 17th, 18th, 27th, and 28th Avenues East, as well as on the cul-de-sac near the Bayshore Community Centre, to prevent congestion and maintain emergency access.
New stop signs at three intersections in the subdivision to improve safety and reflect the area’s development status.
The removal of outdated yield regulations from other intersections where signage and traffic patterns have since changed.
City staff say the changes will enhance traffic safety and reflect current conditions. Residents affected by the parking changes were notified in advance.
Transit Pilot: Two Longer Afternoon Routes
To address persistent afternoon delays on Owen Sound Transit routes, the City is planning a six-month pilot project starting February 1, 2026.
The pilot will:
Add two 45-minute bus runs — one starting at 12:30 p.m. and another at 3:15 p.m. — during peak weekday hours.
Maintain the usual 30-minute schedule for all other service times.
The goal is to prevent buses from falling behind during busy midday periods caused by school dismissals, weather, and traffic. The Committee received the report for information only; no Council action is required at this time.
Water Meter Holdouts Face Administrative Fees
The City is nearing the end of its water meter replacement program, with over 9,000 accounts converted to automated meters. However, 366 accounts remain outstanding — about 4% of the total.
To ensure fair billing and cost recovery, the Committee recommended several measures:
Accounts confirmed to have refused meter installation will incur an administration fee of $150 per billing cycle, starting in March 2026.
These customers will also be billed based on their 2025 average water usage, as manual meter reads will no longer be available.
Property owners who refuse installation but later change their mind after July 1, 2026 will be required to pay the full installation cost.
The City will send registered letters to refusal accounts before penalties apply.
New accounts cannot be created without a compliant meter.
Staff emphasized that enforcement efforts will focus on property owners who have either refused or failed to respond after multiple outreach attempts. The City will attempt to accommodate accounts delayed for legitimate reasons, including access issues or technical challenges.
The Committee also asked staff to report back later in 2026 with an update on remaining outstanding accounts and the effectiveness of these measures.
Resident Calls for Pedestrian Signal Reform
During the meeting, resident Jake Bousfield-Bastedo spoke about the challenges of navigating downtown intersections as a pedestrian and parent, citing inconsistent and inconvenient signal button placement and a general lack of pedestrian prioritization in traffic design.
Bousfield-Bastedo urged the City to consider changes like automatic pedestrian phases, “leading pedestrian intervals” (which give pedestrians a head start before vehicles), and improved accessibility during winter months.
Committee members and staff acknowledged the concerns and noted that a full transportation master plan — expected to launch in 2026 — will integrate walkability, transit, and trails planning.
The full meeting video is available on the City of Owen Sound website.
Related:
