By Sylene Argent, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Essex Free Press
At the April 22 meeting, Essex Council postponed further discussion on possibly increasing the speed limit on the 4th Concession, from County Road 11 to County Road 23, and the 3rd Concession, from County Road 11 (Queen Street) to 100-meters west of Drummond Road, from 60km/h to 80km/hr.
This will give Town of Essex administration an opportunity to report back with more information to address concerns Council outlined during the meeting, and Council the opportunity to conduct public consultation.
The matter was first discussed back in December, when Council was presented with the 2024 Annual Speed Monitoring Program summary.
The summary outlined that data was collected between May 1 and October 31 at various locations throughout the municipality, collected by three different devices, including the discrete black cat unit, a digital radar sign, and speed trailer.
At the time, Council voted to receive the report and directed administration to report back with recommendations for appropriate speeds on Concession Road 4 and Concession Road 3.
The report outlined the observed 85th percentile speed – the speed at which 85% of drivers are observed to travel at under free flowing conditions – was above the current posted speed limit of 60km/h on each road on these two sections of road.
Data showed the average 85th percentile speed at these two locations was 82km/h.
Erica Tilley, Assistant Manager of Capital Works & Asset Management, explained the speed on Concession Road 4 was previously posted at 80km/h, but the Council of the day reduced the speed limit to 60km/h to address concerns with wildlife crossings and sightings.
Essex Free Press files notes discussion on the speed of the 4th began at the July 13, 2015 Council meeting, when a petition containing the signatures of 23 residents on the 4thconcession was presented. An overwhelming majority of those residents wanted the speed limit on their road reduced to 60 km/h from the McCormick Sideroad to the Arner Townline.
A motion to reduce the speed limit there was passed at that time, with the by-law passed later on.
Through the 2024 Speed Monitoring Program, Administration has obtained objective data that would indicate that motorists observe a safe driving speed of 80km/h based on the conditions of the road,” Tilley noted in her report.
Though history on the 3rd Concession speed limit reduction was not found, records indicate the speed was set to 60km/h prior to the 1999 amalgamation. The same justification for an increased speed limit can be used for this road segment, the report adds.
Based on the data collected, Town administration recommended the speed be increased in the two locations to 80km/h, Tilley noted.
Councillor Rodney Hammond wanted more studies to be conducted around the McCormick Road intersection to determine what cars are moving north and south, and are not getting counted going east and west in the area studied.
He was not in favour of increasing or decreasing speeds, until more in-depth study, particularly on the 3rd and 4th and around McCormick. He made that a motion.
The 85th percentile, Councillor Jason Matyi said, is one way to judge speed. Town staff members have pointed out people drive at a speed they feel comfortable. He believes the report missed the point in that there is a discrepancy between the 4th and 3rd Concession, as there are more cars going down one faster than the other.
At first, Matyi was in favour of bringing the speed back up to 80km/h.
He spoke of how when getting closer to Harrow, it does not make sense to raise it.
The speeds on the roads have to have aligned.Matyi would be more supportive to have the entirety of the 3rd and 4th concession be posted at 70km/h, with perhaps McCormick to Drummond reduced to 60km/h as Harrow is approached.
Councillor Joe Garon noted the data presented on the roads did not take accidents, fatalities, and number of speeding tickets on an annual basis into consideration.
If the speed is raised to 80km/h, Garon supposes some will drive 90-100km/h.
With the report issued, Deputy Mayor Rob Shepley said he was called by many on the 4th, who reminded him there are a lot of deer and wildlife in the area. He assumed the 3rd would be similar. That did change his perspective.
He wanted to see a plan that works for the design of the road, wildlife, and pedestrians, and would like a more wholesome look at the matter.
Councillor Brad Allard also had concerns with raising the speed, based on just using the 85th percentile.
Councillor Katie McGuire-Blais wanted to support Hammond in creating a more in-depth study. She did not want to put the matter on hold. In the end, she believed the speed will be changed to 80, but wanted to have all questions answered residents are reaching out to Council with.
Director of Infrastructure, Kevin Girard, noted when administration screened roads it was based on Town policy, which incorporates the 85th percentile, density of driveways, intersections, stop controls, pedestrians.
Administration concluded it never would have recommended the change from 80km-60km on the 4th.
He warned that if Council wanted a more in-depth report, it likely would not look much different than what was presented. If a more in-depth look was desired, he recommended looking to a traffic consultant, which would require funds.
Mayor Sherry Bondy noted that if Council believes a traffic consultant is needed, that would have to be discussed at budget time. This has been an ongoing issue for years, and she wants it done properly. The two roads need to be the same in speed.
Residents who have concerns with speeding and would like data collected can report them by contacting the OPP non-emergency number or by emailing psb@essex.ca which goes to the Police Services Board, and it can be considered.
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