The town of Fort Frances is rejecting a request to consider a lower speed limit in the downtown core.
The request was made two years ago by the Downtown Business Improvement Association because of safety concerns of people trying to cross Scott Street.
But a report from town administration says a review of traffic and speeds does not justify a change.
Data was collected from eastbound traffic in the 100 block of Scott and from westbound traffic in the 700 block.
Speeds of traffic in the 100 block ranged between 41 and 60 km/hr, with the average speed exceeding no higher than 25 km/hr, slowing to 20 km/hr between the hours of 8 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Higher speeds were recorded in the 700 block, ranging from 63 to 99 km/hr, with many maximum speeds coming in at 70 km/hr.
However, the average speed still came in at the posted limit of 50 km/hr.
Administration notes that the data collected does not differentiate between slow-moving vehicles, such as snow plows or fast vehicles, such as emergency response vehicles.
Data was not collected in the 200 or 300 blocks because the information could be skewed by signs and parked vehicles.
Administration also reviewed the timing of the stop lights but found no issues.
OPP report that between 2018 and 2022, only three speeding tickets had been issued in the downtown core.
The administration report also notes that under the town’s Traffic Control By-law, pedestrians are required to cross a street at a crosswalk or pedestrian crossover.
No mention of future enforcement of that section of the by-law would be taken.
