Discussion around the Collingwood Council Table on Monday November 5th set the record straight on whether or not the Town of Collingwood acted correctly in reducing the speed limit along a stretch of highway 26, and whether or not the OPP will enforce the new reduced speed limits.

The new reduced speed limits posted along highway 26 have been approved by the Ministry of Transportation. This was made official on Friday November 2 when the town received notice that the MTO had approved the new bylaw under section 195(3) of the Highway Traffic Act.

There had been some confusion as to whether the Town had followed proper procedure in reducing speed limits along the stretch of highway in Collingwood's west end. In a presentation to council, Town of Collingwood Legal Advisor Leo Longo said that he feels Town staff acted properly in moving through the process of reducing the speed limits. "Personally I'd like to add that from what I’ve seen in the press, the criticism leveled against Town Staff and the OPP are simply unfounded and unwarranted based on the background as I understand it” said Longo. While the OPP will now enforce the new speed limits, OPP will not pursue prosecution respecting the 33 tickets issued between October 17th to 29th. Charges issued during this time period will be withdrawn.

The initial Staff Report dealing with reducing the speed limit on the "connecting links" portion of highway 26 was presented to council on Monday, September 17th. The report dealt with reducing the speed limit on Highway 26 West from 70km/h to 50km/h from the intersection of Highway 26 West and Harbour Street, to the area immediately west of the entrance to the Consulate project, just west of Princeton Shores Blvd. It also recommended the installation of two further 50km/h signs on the Tenth Line between Mountain Road and Sixth Street, the reduction of the speed limit on Poplar Sideroad to 60 km/h from 80km/h from east of Hurontario Street on the Poplar Sideroad until just east of the intersection of Poplar Sideroad and Raglan Street South, and the reduction of the speed limit from the current posted speed limit of 70km/h on Highway 26 East to 50km/h from the intersection at Hume Street and The Pretty River Parkway, eastwards to the intersection of Lakeview Avenue.

Collus Executive Director Ed Houghton told council that significant development has occurred along highway 26 west over the past few years, including the recent opening of the new Pretty River Academy. Houghton said 3,500 new residential units are already complete of the 4,600 units planned for development in this part of Collingwood.

Some confusion surrounds whether or not the Town has control over what is referred to as a "connecting link" entrances and exits to the Town, without having to seek approval from the Ministry. Houghton feels further discussion is needed to clarify the rules and regulations presently in place. "One of the benefits of having this as a connecting link is that we were supposed to have control and jurisdiction over it but what we found out is that we could potentially have lost that" said Houghton. Houghton said that perhaps one solution would be to reconsider whether or not the Town should be considering this as a connecting link and hand back the maintenance and the cost to the Ministry of Transportation. "I think that staff needs to have a discussion and council needs to deliberate at a later date" said Houghton. "When it was given to us in 1987 and 1989 it was so that we would have control over it so that we could have entrances and exits without having to have approval from the Ministry of Transportation, that we could have turning lanes without having to have Ministry of Transportation give us those kinds of approvals. What we found out today is that with their new position, I say it that way, that we have lost that authority" said Houghton.