Speed Limits Reduced Through Hamlet Of Arden To 40 Kph

Craig Bakay | Jun 21, 2023

Arden, and specifically Arden Road, came in for considerable discussion at Central Frontenac Council’s regular meeting June 13 in Sharbot Lake.

First, Council accepted a bid from Gemmill Sand and Gravel for $586,100 ($25,498 over budget) to resurface Arden Road, to be completed no later than Sept. 1, 2023.

Then, later on in the meeting, Council passed a motion from Coun. Lynn Klages to lower the speed limit on Arden Road to 40 kph from 100 metres north of Price Road to the current signage about 90 metres south of the Trans Canada Trail, removing any 50 kph zones in the hamlet so a simple reduction from 60 kph to 40 kph is in place.

Currently, the speed limit for the majority of Arden Road is 60 kph. This reduces to 50 kph directly north of the hamlet near Mill Pond then a further reduction to 40 kph as the more densely populated portion of the hamlet is encountered, which is continued to about 90 metres south of the Trans Canada Trail. However, the 40 kph zone is not currently included in the existing speed reduction bylaw.

Not everyone was in agreement with the reduction though.

Coun. Bill Everett unsuccessfully argued for a 70 kph zone (although he said he’d be fine with 60 kph) from Hwy 7 to Willet Road.

“I disagree with both Coun. Klages’ 50 and public works’ 40,” Everett said. “This summer, we’re turning it back into an 80 kph road.

“For decades, people have done 80 on that road and only slow down to 60 because of the condition of the road.”

Everett said, that in his mind, there’s a more natural transition.

“If we change from 60 to 40 at Price Road, people are going to see this nice straight, smooth stretch in front of them and they’re not going to slow down,” he said. “There’s a natural transition at Willet Lane where the road turns right on a natural blind bend and they are not going to slow down.

“I would be OK with 60 kph to Willet but not 50 or 40.”

Klages disagreed.

“It is a safety feature to encourage people to slow down,” she said. “The amount of pedestrian traffic walking along that stretch from Willet out to Price Road is significant.”

LED Retrofit

Council approved a $105,772 tender to retrofit Township buildings with LED lighting.

Westport Road

Council approved a $768,987 to resurface Westport Road.

Memorial Bench

Council approved the installation of a bench in Fossey Memorial Park to honour former Coun. and business owner Bob Harvey.

Traffic Study Nixed

Council rejected a request from public works to obtain a cost estimate for a traffic study at the Matthew Street intersection.

Parking on Road 38

Council opted to go with a reflective flexible bollards solution to the parking issue on Road 38 in front of the Cardinal Café.

Council rejected Mayor Frances Smith’s suggestion of “sawhorses with big pieces of wood on them so the bollards are pretty.”

Caboosefest

Council voted to support the Central Frontenac Railway Heritage Society’s request to declare Caboosefest 2023 an event of cultural significance in order to facilitate obtaining a licence for a beer tent. Caboosefest is planned for July 29 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Railway Park on Elizabeth Street and is scheduled to include live music (separate sessions for kids and adults), kids crafts, a silent auction, games and activities, food (Frenchie’s chip truck) and a beer tent (Kick and Push Brewery).

“If I remember correctly, it was about 40 degrees for that last year,” said Mayor Frances Smith.

Council did not support the Society’s request to have the Township pickup garbage at Park. Recently, the Society’s arrangement with a private contractor has been cut back but Coun. Bill Everett said they are prepared to make alternative arrangements that would be cheaper than having the Township do it and bill the Society.

“They are not a committee of Council,” said Smith. “We don’t do pickups if it’s nor our rec committee areas.”

Ethel Street

Council accepted a resident’s request not to name a short road “Whisky Street,” opting instead to name it “Ethel Street” after Ethel Whan, whom Mayor Frances Smith said “was probably our first mail delivery person."