Canton village officials petition state to lower speed limit near St. Lawrence Health’s medical complex

BY PAUL MITCHELL
North Country This Week

CANTON – The Canton Village Board will be making another attempt to get the speed limit reduced from 55 miles per hour to 40 miles per hour along a stretch of Rt. 11 from the village limits to the St. Lawrence Health’s medical complex.

At Wednesday night’s monthly meeting, the board unanimously agreed to petition the state to lower the speed limit to 40 miles per hour.

In recent years, numerous accidents, including a fatal crash, have occurred within the stretch of roadway.

“We will try it again,” said Mayor Michael Dalton.

A resolution endorsed by the village board reads: “The designated portion of East Main Street is also part of U.S. and State Highway 11, and therefore home rule requests addressed to the New York State Assembly and the New York State Senate are required before the village may pass a local law or other ordinance, order, rule or regulation to enact said speed limit.”

“Whereas, Senate Bill No. S04231 introduced by Senate Daniel Stec on or about Feb. 6, 2023, and New York State Assembly Bill No. A04179, introduced by Assemblyman Scott Gray on or about Feb. 10, 2023, each stating the following: Pursuant to Section 1643 of the Vehicle and Traffic Law, the village of Canton in the town of Canton in St. Lawrence County is hereby authorized and empowered to lower the speed limit to 40 miles per hour on East Main Street between mile marker 11 7506 1320 and mile marker 11 7506 1332, in the village of Canton provided the governing body of such village shall establish such speed limit by local law, order, rule or regulation.”

Village Clerk Sally Noble will be submitting a Home Rule request to the state Assembly and state Senate for enactment of said special law.

Previous requests directed to the New York State Department of Transportation have been denied.

Exiting the village of Canton and heading to Potsdam, the speed limit shifts gears from 40 miles per hour to 55 miles per hour well before encountering the curve under the overpass. From there, vehicles often need to make a left turn into the medical facility with little or no room to pass that vehicle on the right.

A roll call vote was made with the mayor and four trustees voting in the affirmative.