Woolwich residents, council push back against regional speed limits and cameras

Residents in Woolwich Township are asking the Region of Waterloo to pump the brakes on a number of new speed enforcement strategies on rural roads.

Lobsinger Line is a crucial road connecting hundreds of people in Woolwich Township and beyond to Waterloo, many of whom use it every day.

For that reason, newly enforced speed limits are causing concerns, as commuters are being forced to slow from 80 km/h to 40 km/h in a matter of metres to abide by limits near schools.

Township of Woolwich Council formed a motion, which Mayor Sandy Shantz will take the regional headquarters that asks the region to reconsider speed limits near school zones, specifically changing enforced limits near King Alfred Academy and Balsam Grove Parochial School to be increased to 60 km/h instead of 40 km/h.

Delegates who spoke at a township meeting on Tuesday claimed there is little to no evidence showing a correlation between pedestrian collisions and school zones.

A petition started by Woolwich Township residents demanding changes to speed limits and speed enforcement on rural roads has garnered more than 660 signatures in less than a month.

The motion will also advocate for installing flashing lights in school zones in the township instead of speed enforcement cameras, and that the region take a considered approach to the 27 individual Woolwich school zones instead of a blanket approach.

The motion will also be forwarded to the townships of North Dumfries and Wilmot in order to spark the creation of a “rural speed zone strategy.”