Midland council has given its formal approval to retaining one consistent speed limit between Midland and Penetanguishene.
As a follow-up to last month’s 'missed opportunity' to implement a consistent 60 kilometres per hour speed limit on County Road 93 from Penetanguishene to Midland in light of the new roundabout, Mayor Stewart Strathearn brought a notice of motion forward at regular council to address the matter.
“Could you verify that this was the same motion that came to Penetanguishene, and they’ve agreed to implement this?” asked Deputy Mayor Mike Ross.
Mayor Strathearn responded, “That’s correct. And in fact, if we pass this motion then it will be provided to the town of Penetanguishene, and they will craft a letter on behalf of both councils to the county to request the implementation of this.”
During a meeting of Simcoe County council last month, Strathearn missed an opportunity to remedy the stretch of road that fluctuates through several speed limit changes in a few kilometres of distance.
On the heels of Strathearn’s notice of motion was Coun. Bill Gordon, who perceived a turn of face by the mayor.
Last summer, Strathearn had aligned with staff recommendations for Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) warrants that stated the installation of a four-way stop at Bay Street and First Street was not advised, against public outcry for community safety.
Through intermittent chuckles, Gordon pointed out the irony of Strathearn’s seemingly-contradictory adherence to MTO warrants and staff recommendations in both cases, at one point making an accusation that the mayor was “basically asking us to flip that position because it’s something that, you know, you want to see done.”
“I’m fine with 60 kilometres per hour,” said Gordon, “but effectively you’re asking that the county go against the staff recommendation and the MTO warrants that say that’s not needed; is that an accurate statement?”
Strathearn remained calm in response to Gordon’s laughter, noting that the county had initially indicated that a straight 60 kilometre per hour stretch was the original intention.
“This, actually, was a sort of tacit understanding that it would be 60, and then county fell back on the warrant system,” explained Strathearn. “And this whipsaw (happened) between 60 and 80 and 50 and again 80 and then 60 and then 50.
“This isn’t the first time the county engineering staff have been asked to reconsider their adherence to warrants,” Strathearn noted, adding that staff recommendations are always under his consideration. “And while I wear two hats, I’ll go with our staff on this one.”
Coun. Jonathan Main chimed in that the recommendations including the overall speed-limit reduction had been noted as far back as 2018, as part of the County Road 93 Complete Street class environmental assessment, which then became a part of the town’s 2019 multi-modal transportation master plan.
Deputy Mayor Mike Ross reminded council that the town of Penetanguishene also voted in favour of the similar-worded policy, that the County of Simcoe implement a 60 kilometre per hour speed limit from the roundabout one kilometre north to Penetanguishene and one kilometre south to Midland, and the motion was carried.
Council meetings are held every third Wednesday, and can be viewed on Rogers TV cable channel 53, or through the livestream on the Rogers TV website. Archives of council meetings are available through Rogers TV and on the Town of Midland’s YouTube channel.
