ABERFOYLE – Puslinch council is considering setting a default speed limit of 60km/h throughout the township after receiving a report from Paradigm Transportation Solutions at its Oct. 9 meeting.
The township hired Paradigm to study the road network and establish optimum speed limits for every segment of township roads.
As it stands now, according to the Highway Traffic Act, any unposted road defaults to 80km/h.
Paradigm found that 35 per cent of the road network in Puslinch falls in this category.
The other findings:
- 0.9% of township roads are posted at 40km/h;
- 4.6% are 50km/h;
- 53.8% are 60km/h; and
- 1.2% are posted at 80km/h.
The consultant recommended new speed limits and a signage plan and also that the township monitor motorist compliance afterward to assist with requests for targeted enforcement by OPP.
The majority of roads were recommended to be 60km/h or less based on road condition, geography and geometry of the road, the number of homes, traffic counts and other measures as set out by the Transportation Association of Canada guidelines.
Paradigm senior project manager Joshua de Boer pointed out the Highway Traffic Act also includes rules around speed limit signs and where and when they are required.
If there’s a drop in the speed limit on a particular road – for a bend in the road or approaching stop signs for example – warning signs are required.
He estimated about 500 new signs would be required to implement all the recommendations in the report.
Director of public works, parks and facilities Mike Fowler said road signs cost about $220 per sign, so just installing signs could amount to $100,000.
Council was interested in setting a default limit of 60km/h throughout the township unless posted speeds were already less than that and wondered about signage requirements and the associated costs.
Mayor James Seeley wondered if gateway signage at every entry to the township would be enough to meet the Highway Traffic Act and whether OPP could or would enforce the new speed.
“I would consider a blanket limit,” he said.
“And then ask OPP if they could enforce it. Then we could address speeds road by road.”
Councillor John Sepulis said he had suggested 60km/h across the board some years ago, but the idea was turned down because most of the existing speeds were 70km/h at the time.
He sought more clarity on that before endorsing Paradigm’s report.
He also wanted the public to weigh in on the idea.
“This study affects everybody in the township,” he said.
Councillor Russel Hurst noted speed limits don’t mean anything without enforcement.
“If there’s no enforcement, we’re not addressing it (speeding concerns),” he said.
After robust discussion, council decided to endorse the report and directed staff to:
- develop a signage plan;
- find out if OPP can enforce a universal speed limit with only gateway signage;
- open public engagement on the matter in 2025; and
- set aside some money in the 2025 budget to get going on the plan.
