ATHABASCA — Drivers traversing the avenues and streets of the Town of Athabasca won’t have to worry about paying attention to new speed limits — for now — after a suggestion to reduce maximum speeds in certain areas left councillors split on the idea and in need of more information.
During the Aug. 13 regular meeting, town councillors had two speed-related items on the agenda to consider: one, a submission from Coun. Jon LeMessurier requesting to set the speed limit within the town to 40km/h unless otherwise posted.
“(There are) multiple reasons that I believe this is a great decision. First and foremost absolutely is just for public safety and being more proactive versus reactive,” said LeMessurier.
The second speed related request came by way of a hand-written letter from a resident asking that the maximum be upped to 50km/h along 46A Ave, going past the Hillside Motel.
“I can see no reason why this street has a reduced speed from the 50km/h,” wrote the homeowner, “As a driver that uses this street, I respectfully request that this be returned to the previous 50km/h.”
Though councillors opted to unanimously accept to second item as information, the group did exchange their thoughts on LeMessurier’s proposal. Mayor Rob Balay, and councillors Dave Pacholok, and Darlene Reimer expressed their support of a reduction, but only in certain areas.
“I would be willing to support this if it isn’t blanket,” said Balay. I don’t have a problem having my neighbourhood as 40, the south hill as 40, I don’t have a problem with Cornwall being 40.
“I sure don’t want University Drive to be 40, I don’t want Canyon Road to be 40 … Tower Road, I wouldn’t want to see that as 40,” he added.
LeMessurier pointed to the second priority of the Town’s strategic plan, well-being, and said many residents, including seniors and families with children, have reached out to him with concerns about speed limits since he took a seat on council.
His vision was to let the administration and public works team determine where the best places for reductions would be, but chief administrative officer Rachel Ramey said the direction on which areas would be impacted should come from council.
She also noted in previous discussions, councillors opted to forego the idea of reductions in specific areas due to the price tag.
“If we’re going to do it, it should be town-wide because it’s going to be confusing, it’s going to be costly. That’s what the other municipalities are doing,” said Ramey.
Reductions were last discussed two years ago, when two requests from residents prompted council to consider the change. Ramey noted in a June 7, 2022 agenda package that a blanket change of the town’s speed limit would cost upwards of $5,000; 50 signs at around $100 per, plus labour expenses.
Two of LeMessurier’s fellow councillors expressed their hesitations about the proposal, questioning whether drivers on Athabasca’s roads need or want the reductions.
“When you look at the reports that Kevin (Rowan, community peace officer) gave us, the average speed was not even 50 on all of the streets that he’s done,” said Coun. Edie Yuill. “Yes, there are speeders, but it’s only at certain times and quite often it’s at night when there are less people and no kids.
“I don’t see that we necessarily need this,” she added.
Coun. Sara Graling’s reason differed; “I practiced this weekend, because I try not to speed. I drove around the town going under 40km/h, and it was excruciating.”
In recent years, a number of communities across the province have made the switch to a municipal-wide 40km/h unless otherwise posted, including Calgary, Edmonton, St. Albert, Westlock, Leduc, Morinville, and others. The latest city to make the switch was Spruce Grove, with new limit coming into effect at the end of August.
LeMessurier cited an early 2024 study done by the University of Alberta and the City of Edmonton on the impacts of the changes to traffic incidents, which notes the 40km/h limit led to 25 per cent reduction in collisions and a 31 per cent reduction in injuries and fatalities.
He included the costs incurred by other municipalities, noting one community’s reduction came with a price tag of $17,500 — $10,000 of which went towards signage and the rest towards a communication strategy.
Questions about the actual costs for the town were raised by Pacholok, who noted the expenses would depend on which areas were changed and how many were changed.
“If the main concern is that we want to make our community more safe, I don’t think the determining factor for me shouldn’t be whether it’s going to cost us $5,000 or $10,000 to make it safe,” said Balay, to a chorus of affirmations from councillors.
“If the idea is we want to make our community safer, if it’s $20,000, we should be willing to spend $20,000.”
The item was deferred to the Sept. 17 meeting pending further information with a vote of 6-1, with Graling opposed.
