JARVIS—Jarvis residents and businesses who feared losing parking can breathe a sigh of relief – Council has voted for no turning lanes at the intersection of Main and Talbot streets.
After months of public consultation and deliberation, Haldimand Council decided on October 7, 2025 to proceed with Option 3, which upgrades the traffic signals at the intersection of Main Street (Highway 6) and Talbot Street (Highway 3) without adding any turning lanes. This option results in no loss of on-street parking.
The decision followed a presentation of the report prepared by Manager of Engineering Services Kris Franklin and submitted by General Manager Tyson Haedrich.
The report summarized results of a wide-ranging public survey conducted between July 15 and August 15. More than 1,000 responses were received, alongside 400 written comments.
Survey results showed 46.8% favoured installing turning lanes on both highways (Option 1), 18.5% preferred turning lanes on Talbot Street only (Option 2), and 34.7% supported the signal-upgrade-only plan (Option 3).
While the combined majority supported adding turning lanes, written feedback revealed persistent concerns about losing downtown parking – particularly along Main Street in Jarvis’ commercial core. Businesses warned that removing spaces could hurt accessibility and local trade.
Franklin told councillors that staff weighed those concerns carefully.
“About 65% of respondents want to see intersection improvements,” he said, “but more than half also expressed concern about the loss of parking.”
Staff therefore recommended Option 2 – turning lanes on Talbot Street only – as a balanced approach addressing safety and efficiency while preserving Main Street parking.
However, the recommendation met resistance. Ward 1 Councillor Debera McKeen, whose ward includes Jarvis, said accident data did not indicate an urgent need for turning lanes: “There have been 13 accidents in 10 years, none fatal, and most related to turning movements.”
She suggested that increasing lane capacity could invite faster driving: “Speeding up the intersection in Jarvis isn’t an improvement in safety,” she said, adding that residents value accessible parking and the smalltown character of their downtown.
Ward 3 Councillor Dan Lawrence thanked staff for the detailed consultation, but ultimately sided with keeping the existing configuration.
Haldimand County Mayor Shelley Ann Bentley said, “I’m for option number three as well,” echoing concerns raised by businesses that rely on street parking.
She also noted that Jarvis Lions Park – sometimes cited as an overflow lot – is often full during community events, leaving few convenient parking alternatives.
Ward 5 Councillor Rob Shirton questioned the physical layout of Talbot Street and whether turning lanes could fit without widening the road.
Franklin confirmed there was sufficient width, but said minor curb adjustments would be made under the planned resurfacing and accessibility upgrades.
Shirton agreed that maintaining business access was critical.
Ward 4 Councillor Brad Adams said the survey design itself may have skewed perceptions.
“If the question had been posed, ‘Do you want turning lanes, and as a result we will lose parking?’ the numbers might have been different,” he said, adding that the upgrade to modern traffic signals would still represent an improvement for drivers.
McKeen motioned to amend the final choice to Option 3 and Clerk Chad Curtis read the final wording into the record. Haedrich confirmed that the change means no bylaw amendments are required for parking controls.
The vote passed unanimously, ending months of debate that began after the Jarvis Board of Trade raised alarm over potential parking losses in June. At that time, Council directed staff to consult business owners and residents and report back before making a final decision.
Option 3 means the intersection will receive new signal hardware as part of the Talbot Street Connecting Links Program, which is funded 90% by the Ministry of Transportation and 10% by Haldimand County. Phase 2 of the resurfacing work is scheduled for fall 2025 and will include new crosswalks and minor curb improvements to enhance accessibility.
While the vote resolved the immediate issue, the conversation about traffic management in Jarvis is likely to continue. Franklin acknowledged that future growth could revive the question of turning lanes on Highway 6.
For now, Council’s decision keeps Jarvis’s downtown streetscape intact while updating signals to improve timing and safety without altering the historic layout of the ‘friendliest town in Canada.’
