The speed limit on local roads in Orillia will not be reduced.
Council voted Monday to receive a staff report as information, meaning no changes to the current speed limit will be made.
Staff began investigating the matter at Coun. Ralph Cipolla’s request more than a year ago. Their report found lowering the limit to 40 km/h, from 50 km/h, likely would not result in a significant reduction in speeding.
The report also noted reducing the speed limit would require the installation of additional signage at a cost of about $635,000.
Cipolla was not in favour of that, so he took a different route. He suggested Mayor Steve Clarke write to the province’s Ministry of Transportation to request an amendment to the section of the Highway Traffic Act that sets the average speed limit at 50 km/h.
Transportation technologist Lisa Dobson noted such a change to the legislation, were it to be adopted by the ministry, would have to apply to all municipalities in the province, not just Orillia.
“I can’t imagine the outcry that the province would get from Toronto, Hamilton, London, Kitchener — all the larger municipalities across the province,” said Coun. Pat Hehn.
“I just can’t see it going anywhere, unfortunately.”
Cipolla indicated he might bring forward a motion at a later date to ask Clarke to write to the ministry.
