The Orillia Police Services Board is going to Plan B after the province said it would not support lowering the speed limit on the Highway 12 bypass.
Last June, the board asked the Ministry of Transportation to conduct a comprehensive review of traffic and safety concerns along the bypass, which stretches from Atherley Road to Mississaga Street.
Board member Rick Fraracci led the charge, saying the 80 km/h limit is too high. The ministry disagrees.
“The highway is controlled access with a rural cross-section and has a design speed of 100 km/h,” the ministry stated in its response. “Artificially reducing the speed limit will likely result in higher speed violations, and may also lead to higher speed differentials between road users. This can affect safety and increase collisions, as it leads to aggressive driving and more conflicts between vehicles travelling at higher and lower speeds.”
At its meeting Friday, the police services board passed a motion to ask city council to apply for “community safety zone” designation for the area of Highway 12 and Gill Street as well as Highway 12 and Forest Avenue – two busy intersections that also serve as student crossings.
“I believe that’s the only way of reducing speed on that highway,” said board member Mike Winacott. “I think that’s the best course of action.”
The ministry offered some suggestions on how to improve safety at those two intersections, but some of those measures are already in play, including the use of whistles by crossing guards.
“All the alternatives they gave us, we’re already doing,” Winacott said.
And those measures haven’t necessarily curbed the close calls.
“There were some incidents there with … kids almost getting hit,” he said.
Mayor Steve Clarke, a member of the board, supported the recommendation.
“If we want speed reduction contemplated there, we should look at a community safety zone,” he said.
Fines for speeding are increased in community safety zones.
If council agrees and directs staff to apply for the designation, the city will have to consult with local service agencies such as the OPP and include the feedback in the application.
Coun. Jeff Clark, also a member of the police services board, was hoping to see in the ministry’s report an indication it would consider widening the bypass from two lanes to three or four.
“I will be checking up on that,” he said.
