All municipal roads in Hawkesbury could soon be designated as a Community Safety Zone.
On September 9, town council adopted a resolution which proposes that a bylaw be adopted at a future meeting to make the entire town a Community Safety Zone, which will allow for doubled fines for speeding and other traffic offences. Currently, smaller Community Safety Zones exist around schools and busy recreation areas such as the Robert Hartley Sports Complex and public library.
The decision to proceed with a town-wide Community Safety Zone is a response to a decision by the Consortium du transport scolaire de l’Est, which is the school bus transport agency for the French public and Catholic school boards to expanded the distance students are required to walk to reach their busy stops in Hawkesbury. Primary and secondary students are now required to walk up to 3.2 kilometres, with an estimated walking time of up to approximately 38 minutes to reach their bus stops.
Councillor Jeanne Charlebois said she wished speed bumps had been included in the plan.
Chief Administrative Officer Sam Cardarelli said the town-wide Community Safety Zone was the most cost-effective solution for now, but further reports, budgetary discussions, and communication with the Ontario Provincial Police about other measures will take place.
The bylaw is also likely to include reducing the speed limit on all town streets to 40 kilometres per hour from the current 50 kilometres per hour.
