THUNDER BAY – The City of Thunder Bay will investigate the potential to decrease speed limits on a stretch of Arthur Street west of the Thunder Bay Expressway, addressing concerns brought forward by Neebing Ward city councillor Cody Fraser.
Fraser’s motion requesting a report from city administration on the possibility of speed reductions and other traffic calming measures was passed unanimously by city council on Monday, with a report due back by Dec. 6 of this year.
His intent was not to impact speed limits within the urban area of Thunder Bay, he stressed, amending his motion to specify that it would only apply to the section of Arthur from Parkdale Boulevard, near the Arthur Street Marketplace plaza, west to city limits.
Residents living along that stretch, where the speed limit is currently 80 km/h, have raised serious concerns about speeding by heavy trucks and conventional vehicles, Fraser said.
Given council’s failure to move forward on a Designated Truck Route that would shift heavy commercial traffic off of the street, Fraser said it was up to the city to find alternate approaches.
Fraser said Monday he envisioned implementing graduated speed limits, similar to those in place on Dawson Road, but would wait to see what options the city’s traffic technologists recommend.
The issue is divisive, even within his own ward, he noted.
“Anyone who’s had conversations with folks from my ward who live along Arthur Street, they obviously want this,” he said. “[There’s] also a second cohort of individuals who… use this thoroughfare to commute every day, and they aren’t too keen on it being reduced, so I’m kind of in an interesting position as a ward councillor where I have constituents on both sides of the argument.”
That makes public consultation key before any final decision is made, he said, adding he’ll raise the issue at upcoming Neebing Ward meetings.
Coun. Peng You questioned whether drivers would respect reduced speed limits, asking if a photo radar system could be implemented to increase compliance.
However, automated speed enforcement is allowed only in school zones and community safety zones in Ontario, said director of engineering and operations Kayla Dixon.
