Council looks at street speed reductions
by Michelle Minnoch

Council looked at possible speed reductions in the Town Wednesday night, involving the Village of Cookstown, Big Bay Point Road, and Salem Road.

Although there was a request from a resident to drop the speed limit in the Village of Cookstown to 40 km/hr, council did not want to lower the limit. According to Staff Report PDS-045-07, "Innisfil has in the past reserved 40 km/hr speed zones for school zones only." Cookstown Public School is located on a County Road, and the town has no jurisdiction in the speed limit in that particular area.

Another resident request asked for the reduction of speed on Big Bay Point Road, between McCormick Gate and the 20th Side Road, from 80 km/hr to 50 km/hr. The Staff Report states 200 metres west of the requested are is the City of Barrie, in which the roads have been expanded to four lanes and 60 km/hr is the posted speed. The Report states the issue will be reexamined if the planned Big Bay Point Resort is approved through the Ontario Municipal Board.

The resident request regarding Salem Road, reducing speed to 50 km/hr was up for approval.

Councilor Paul Wardlaw said when the list of street enhancements and improvements were made, Salem Road was on the bottom of the list, and at that time, the Emmanuel Baptist Church was not yet built.

The Staff Report states a field investigation was conducted, finding there are nine residents living on the south side of Salem Road, the newly constructed church on the north side. Staff is recommending that a 60 km/hr speed limit should be posted on Salem Road, from Country Road 30 and approximately 550 metres east.

The cost of the change, for labour and material, will cost approximately $400.