Thunder Bay Council will look further into reducing the speed limit on a stretch of Arthur Street West.
The section of Arthur Street that would see reduced speed limits would be from Parkdale Avenue West to the end of city limits. This section currently has a maximum speed limit of 80km/h.
Neebing Ward Councillor Cody Fraser stated Monday that the designated truck route that never came to fruition has been a significant factor in why the issue is so important.
“I’m not just pulling this out of my hat here, one of the first things we dealt with as a council was a designated truck route,” Fraser explains. “One of the first things I had to deal with as a ward councillor was that issue, but also after the designated truck route had failed, to try and mitigate the issues that are ongoing because of trucks on Arthur Street.”
Fraser goes on to say, “There are ongoing conversations with everybody that lives on Arthur Street West from Canadian Tire past Mapleward and on. I’ve spent a great deal of time trying to figure out the best way forward after the designated truck route failed, so this is what I’ve come to.”
Director of Engineering & Operations Kayla Dixon said reducing the vehicle speeds could change the habits of some drivers.
“As far as automated speed enforcement goes, there are only two zones where automated speed enforcements are available at this point in the province,” says Dixon. “One is community safety zones and one is school zones and because we do not have either of those established on Arthur Street, it would not be appropriate to put photo radar there at this time, so we would look to police for enforcement along this section.”
A report is expected to be brought back to council during a December council meeting.
