Despite some opposition, the speed limit on a section of the St. Clair Parkway in Sombra will be reduced from 70 kilometres per hour to 60 km/h.
Resident Robert Renaud approached council during a recent meeting, citing safety concerns between the D’Arcy McKeough Floodway and W French Line.
Councillor Brad Langstaff introduced a motion to change the speed limit.
Langstaff said when he canvassed the area a couple of years ago, speeding along the parkway was "the number one concern" among residents.
"The parkway is not for going 70, 80, 100 [km/h]. We have 40 highway, we have Kimball, we have Brigden Road to get us throughout the community, we don't need to be speeding on the parkway," Langstaff said. "When I go to the parkway, it's to enjoy the scenery."
Councillor Bill Myers echoed Langstaff's sentiment.
Deputy Mayor Steve Miller said he could not support the motion, adding OPP has conducted speed enforcement in the area and found it was not an issue.
"People's perception of speed is very poor," Miller said. "The OPP went in there, they actually had a couple of residents with them, and asked them how fast they thought cars were going … and they weren't even close. The speeding is not as bad as perceived and I'm certainly not supporting reducing that speed."
Coordinator of Public Works David Neely said in addition to OPP speed data previously collected, the township put its own traffic counter in the area (which can also record speeds.)
"We did that in 2021, I also recorded results in 2014 which was the last time we did it, and both times, the 85th percentile -- they call it -- showed that 85 per cent of traffic was travelling, I think it was no more than 76 kilometres per hour," Neely said. "It didn't prove that there was excessive speeding. Now, I'm not going to say there's never going to be a speeder out there, I'm sure there is, but that's the results that we came up with at the time."
Neely also said four sections of the parkway have 70 km/h speed limits.
"You [have] to be aware I guess, if you're going to lower the speed limit there, the other three areas [have] very similar circumstances of houses on both sides, approximately the same amount of space being back from the roads," Neely said.
He also said one section of the parkway near White Bread Line is 80 km/h while the rest are all 50 km/h.
The motion made by Langstaff passed in a 4-3 vote. Miller and Councillors Pat Brown and Cathy Langis were opposed.
Clerk Jeff Baranek told Sarnia News Today that the speed reduction is scheduled to take place sometime during the week of November 11.
Meanwhile, during his delegation, Renaud also noted safety concerns on Highway 40, specifically regarding missing or insufficient exit lanes at Holt Line and Lambton Line (southbound). He also said the Ministry of Transportation needs to standardize the traffic lights at Lasalle Line, Petrolia Line, and Moore Line.
"I would think that council would have more weight than I would if it was brought to their attention," Renaud said.
Council did not give staff direction to proceed with anything regarding the Highway 40 concerns.