The change to a 40 km/hr speed limit throughout Eugenia won’t need as many signs as originally suggested.
Grey Highlands council recently voted in favour of a plan to reduce the speed limit Eugenia to 40 km/hr. At council’s meeting on Nov. 15, staff returned with a report outlining plans to bring forward a bylaw to formally reduce the speed limit.
The report also suggested a total of 55 road signs would be needed to mark the new speed limit in the small community. Staff recommended the installation of 18 40 km/hr “speed limit begins” signs, 18 40 km/hr “speed limit ends” signs and 19 general 40 km/hr signs around the village.
The cost of the signs was estimated at $4,276, which would push the municipality’s annual sign budget into a deficit of $3,376.
However, Mayor Paul McQueen immediately questioned the need for “speed limit ends” signs being used, seeing as the entire village would be a 40 km/hr zone. McQueen said the only place the “speed limit ends” signs would be at Inkerman and East Streets, which end at the 8th concession - a 50 km/hr road.
The mayor moved an amendment to the motion to cut back on the total number of signs and said a reduction would save money and still meet the goal of the speed reduction in Eugenia.
“I’m trying to meet that objective and trying to find that sweet spot,” he said.
Other members of council agreed.
“I find it beyond odd that we would have 40 km/hr ends signs at (county road) 13, where it’s 40 km/hr,” said Coun. Joel Loughead, who said the reduction would drop the total signs required from 55 to approximately 20.
Council unanimously approved the amendment to reduce the number of signs. The formal bylaw reducing the speed will come to council for approval at its next meeting.
