Town to lower speed limit in River Canard, ask county for study

Town council has taken several traffic related measures in River Canard, including lowering the speed limit to 40 km/hr on South Riverview Dr. near St. Joseph Church.

A speed limit reduction is coming to a River Canard roadway and other traffic measures could soon follow.

Amherstburg town council has agreed to lower the speed limit on a portion of South Riverview Dr. from 50 km/hr to 40 km/hr and expand a Community Safety Zone to other parts of that area of town that have 50 km/hr speed limits.

The motion put forward by Councillor Don McArthur and passed unanimously by council was to extend the community safety zone to align with the 50 km/hr zone on Concession 3 North, ask Essex County council for a traffic study in the River Canard area and to reduce the speed limit on South Riverview Dr. from Beneteau Dr. to the stop sign at County Road 8 in front of St. Joseph Church. A Community Safety Zone will also be established on South Riverview Dr.

McArthur said “it just makes sense” to do so, saying it is in line with other Community Safety Zones in Amherstburg that are in high traffic pedestrian areas such as schools and churches.

McArthur thanked administration for working with county officials and church parishioners. He said he was happy with the recommendations put forth and the church is as well, though wanted to ensure the Community Safety Zone was included, using the 50 km/hr zone on Concession 3 North as an example.

Manager of roads and fleet Eric Chamberlain noted it was included as part of the recommendation to establish Community Safety Zones in the area.

There is a Community Safety Zone already in the county portion of the area along County Road 8, also known as North Townline.

On the subject of speed limits, Chamberlain said the town worked with the Windsor Police Service and received a recommendation to keep the speed limits consistent in the area “for the ability to enforce the speed limit and signage.”

“What they find is when they are doing enforcement when there are speed limits that are so tight, it would difficult to determine or defend where that vehicle was when they took that radar reading,” said Chamberlain.

If the county were to agree to a traffic study and decided to lower it to 40 km/hr on their roads, the town would too, Chamberlain had stated, but in meeting with county officials, he told town council the county was not interested in lowering County Road 8 to 40 km/hr.

“This is a very special area. In fact, it’s pretty dangerous for people to try to get out of the school, for parents trying to pick up their children,” said Councillor Diane Pouget.

Pouget said there is an intersection right in front of the church and parking lots nearby. She questioned why the speed limits on the county road couldn’t be decreased to 40 km/hr, citing the Community Safety Zone on their road and the school.

The input of the Town of LaSalle was also sought by Pouget, and she wondered if they agreed with the recommendation. Chamberlain said LaSalle was consulted and noted “there is some discrepancy” on “property issues” as to who owns some of the roads.

Chamberlain it would be up to the county to lower the speed limit on County Road 8.

A Community Safety Zone will be established on Concession 3 North in the 50 km/hr zone (pictured) as well as along South Riverview Dr. in River Canard.

Councillor Peter Courtney said “it’s kind of a crazy corner” at South Riverview Dr. and County Road 8 with the church, school and homes in the area and said he supported McArthur’s motion. He wanted to know the timing in terms of working with the county on speed and traffic issues.

“I’m hopeful county council will make a decision to say ‘hey, for that little stretch, it makes sense’,” said Courtney.

McArthur said arguments put forth by police about uniformity in speed limits is a “chicken or egg” scenario. He didn’t believe that was a reason to delay in lowering the speed limit on a town-owned road like South Riverview Dr.

“I don’t think we need to wait. We have a problem, we can solve it (at the April 14 meeting),” he said.

McArthur questioned why a 50 km/hr speed limit would be defended by the county in front of St. Joseph School, St. Joseph Church and the nearby intersection at South Riverview Dr. and County Road 8.

“If people at county council want to make that argument, so be it, but I think Amherstburg council should say this intersection is strange enough, is in a high traffic area and we need to keep students and the parishioners safe. Let’s move to 40 km/hr tonight,” he said at the April 14 meeting.

Councillor Molly Allaire supported the motion, but did point out some findings she heard when she attended the recent Good Roads Conference. Allaire said there was a demonstration where increasing speeds lowers pedestrian collisions, as fewer pedestrians try to cross roads when speed limits are higher.

Allaire said she still supported lowering the speed limit on a portion of South Riverview Dr., saying she “loved this idea.” She believes slowing things down improves the safety of residents “and it’s a very important thing to bring across.”

By Ron Giofu