Lower speed limit could set bad example, council warned
Other residents would want cuts, which would force costly signage changes
Trent Hills council has been warned that lowering the speed limit on Old Hastings Road in Warkworth in response to residents’ traffic concerns is a slippery slope that will just lead many other residents to want lower limits on their streets.
At its meeting on Nov. 26, Neil Allanson, Manager of Roads and Urban Services, encouraged council to spend $5,000 to have a private consultant study the speed limit on Old Hastings, clearly hoping the report will show the limit should not be lowered permanently.
The issue arose because the limit was lowered on that stretch of road starting in the summer because Northumberland County was rebuilding the bridge on County Road 25 and traffic was detoured onto Old Hastings. Council passed a temporary bylaw lowering the limit until Nov. 29.
Residents decided they liked the lower limit and asked for it to be made permanent.
But Allanson recommended an engineering study first.
“This study will evaluate traffic patterns, accident history, and overall road conditions using established warrants to determine the necessity for a permanent change,” his report to council said. “Additionally, consultations with the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and the use of traffic monitoring devices will provide valuable data on traffic flow and safety metrics.”
He recommended that council extend the current speed limit reduction for an additional eight months until July 31 “to ensure an informed decision is made.”
“The cost of an engineering study for this location is estimated at $5,000 and will be allocated to the road department's operating budget,” he wrote.
“I was a little hesitant about the engineering study on this, but I guess it does give you a professional option,” said Councillor Rick English.
He noted that the street includes a park, a firehall, retail business, the Bridge Hospice, and the fact there is only a sidewalk on one side.
“Do they take all this into account?” English asked.
Allanson said the consultant will make a recommendation on whether the speed limit should be reduced after considering all these factors and the number of pedestrians.
He said they will look at whether these factors meet the requirements set out in the Ontario Traffic Manual, but he said the factors that English had mentioned did not meet the requirements for a lower limit under the provincial rules.
“That’s what I’m afraid of,” English responded.
“There will be no public input from residents there?” he asked.
“I would have to check, but as a rule they do not do that,” Allanson responded.
Allanson explained that the provincially mandated speed limit in towns, villages, and hamlets is 50 km/h and that lowering the limit requires a bylaw. He expressed concern that residents in many other areas in the municipality would like the limits lowered on their roads and streets.
“On some cottage roads people would like them at 20 because they have a warning sign because of sharp curves. That’s just one fallout that would come from this.
Deputy Mayor Mike Metcalf asked Allanson to clarify that there is nothing to stop the council from lowering the limit, no matter what the study says.
“That is correct,” Allanson said, noting that council took a similar action when it supported installing crosswalks in Hastings that did not meet the provincial requirements.
“Which have significantly improved the safety for pedestrians, in my opinion,” Metcalf responded.
Councillor Dennis Savery said it would be a better for council to listen to residents and lower the limit without paying for a $5,000 engineering study.
But Allanson said that if the limit is lowered on Old Hastings Road and other residents also want changes on their streets, forcing the municipality to lower those limits too, it would result in the cost of changing signs that would far exceed $5,000.
In the end only Savery opposed spending $5,000 on the report and the temporary lower limit was supported.
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There are a few silly speed limits around. One glaring example is Crowe River Road. No speed signs so it is, therefore, a 50 kph road. Given the small number of dwellings this road should be signed and the limit safely increased to 60 or 70 kph. At present, when you turn off this road into Petherick's Corners the speed limit increases to 60 kph in the hamlet , which is absurd.
Enforcement stops speeding. This is from someone who has a work history. Enforcement has come a long way. The Chief of Norwood in the early sixties who was also the Town Foreman had the distance between Hydro poles marked out and used a stopwatch, only had to take the lic. Plate and once a week went into Ptbo. And the Justice of the Peace prepared and sent out the tickets. OPP in 64 had a radar on a tripod and radar machine was powered by cables attached to the battery. Technology has come a long way. Photo radar could be purchased and have it moved to where the complaints are. It could be in a box along the road or hung on a pole to stop vandalism. Stirling is considering it and Belleville has it. It would be cost effective, not only stopping speeding but part of the fines comes back to the Municipality. Cheaper than hiring more police. Would help the bottom line and curb speeding if it could be moved around. Trent Hills has the equipment to move it around. Council needs to consider this. Thanks to Councillor Savery voting against $5000.00 to do a study.