A speed reduction could be coming to a section of Road 3 West in Kingsville.
Jack Miner Migratory Bird Sanctuary has asked Kingsville council to take action to slow traffic through the conservation area by lowering the speed limit and adding other traffic-calming measures.
Matthew Olewski, the sanctuary’s executive director, told council Monday night that Road 3 West cuts directly through the sanctuary, where wildlife, visitors, school groups and vehicles regularly interact.
“A modest reduction in speed may seem like a small change, but it can have a meaningful impact, giving drivers those few extra moments to react, reducing the severity of collisions, creating a safer environment for our visitors, and improving the chances for wildlife to cross safely. It’s simple, it’s practical, and it’s greatly beneficial,” Olewski said.
He said wildlife collisions happen regularly through the sanctuary corridor.
“On average, we document between seven and 10 Canada geese killed along this corridor each year. In some years that number is even greater, and these are the only incidents that we in fact know about,” he said.
Olewski said people are also impacted, noting the sanctuary welcomes thousands of visitors each year.
He said school buses regularly drop off students and families often walk between parking areas, trails and viewing locations.
“It is not uncommon to see drivers suddenly break or swerve to avoid wildlife crossing in this corridor, and while we are grateful that no serious collision involving a pedestrian has occurred, relying on luck is not a sound strategy,” said Olewski.
Town staff told council that the speed limit was previously reduced from 80 km/h to 60 km/h following an earlier sanctuary request.
A second request for a further reduction and community safety zone was considered but not implemented in 2016.
Council directed administration to investigate safety measures for the corridor and return with recommendations at the Oct. 5 meeting.