‘Loud and clear’: Woolwich residents urge region to reconsider speed limits

Residents in Woolwich Township are asking the Region of Waterloo to change lanes on speed enforcement on Lobsinger Line.

Recently introduced speed limits on the arterial road are forcing commuters to slow from 80 km/h to 40 km/h in a matter of metres to abide by limits near King Alfred Academy and Balsam Grove Parochial.

“It appears the region has spent money to solve a problem that did not exist and has now created safety issues on this particular stretch of roadway,” said Cheryl Nyusa, a Woolwich resident who spoke at a Sustainability, Infrastructure, and Development Committee meeting on Tuesday.

Nyusa noted that drivers following the rules are being accosted by others and nearly rear-ended due to the sudden and extreme change in speed.

Instead of a 40 km/h limit and speed cameras, residents and Woolwich Mayor Sandy Shantz want lights that flash during school hours to be installed and a limit of 60 km/h.

“Quite honestly, it wasn’t the best idea to allow a private school to have authorization to open on this stretch of road,” said Nyusa. “We wouldn’t put a school on the 401.”

A petition created in opposition of the region’s changes to speed enforcement on Lobsinger Line has received nearly 700 signatures.

“This community has spoken, loud and clear,” said Randy Spruyt, another delegate at the meeting on Tuesday.

Some members of the committee were hesitant to increase speed limits near school zones. Doug Spooner, the acting commissioner for the region’s Transportation Services, said that data proves that pedestrians struck by a vehicle travelling 60 km/h only have a 5 per cent chance of survival.

However, the schools in question are private, and according to delegates, most of their students are dropped off in the parking lot and would have little to no interaction near the street itself.

There are currently speed cameras installed on Lobsinger Line, but according to Spooner, they aren’t ticketing drivers, only collecting information. Spooner added that they’ve recorded drivers travelling as fast as 130 km/h through the stretch of road in question.

“We need to inspire compliance, not defiance,” said committee member Pam Wolf.

The committee voted 12-3 in favour of changing the speed limit in those zones from 40 km/h to 60 km/h, and Spooner’s team will prepare a report to further explore the implications and outcomes of that change. The report and bylaw will come before council.