Enniskillen is hoping to slow down traffic on Marthaville Road.

Recently, the municipality has reduced the speed limit to 50 km/hour in the built up area between Petrolia and Lasalle Line. And it went to residents asking what they think should be done.

Clerk Duncan McTavish says the survey gave some ideas on ways to keep traffic moving at a slower pace to allow pedestrians safe use of the roadway for walking, but there wasn’t a consensus.

But Councillor Mary Lynne McCallum suggested there should be a number of actions taken including keeping the speed at 50 km/h, continuing the speed enforcement by the OPP, creating a community safety zone in the area to boost the fines associated with speeding in the area and purchasing a portable flashing speed sign for drivers.

“You see them everywhere now; they’re not new. And they do make people think how fast they’re going and it is kind of a slap – so slow down.”

Councillor Wally Dunn agreed adding there should be some extra signage explaining what a community safety zone is. He believes if people actually realized they would be facing double the regular fines in the community safety zone, they’d hit the brakes if they saw they were speeding. “That also might help slow people down, knowing that they’re going to be charged twice as much,” says Dunn.

The township also is looking at rebuilding the road in the future and at that time, McTavish suggested, a wider shoulder should be constructed to give people a place to walk.

He’s also keeping an eye on housing developments in Petrolia and the impact they may have on the traffic on Marthaville since it is a main route out of Petrolia to Sarnia.