BY PAUL MITCHELL

North Country This Week

CANTON – Paperwork requesting reducing the speed limit on the outer sector of the State Street Road from 55 miles per hour to 30 miles per hour will be forwarded to the St. Lawrence County Highway Department.

Members of the Canton Town Board unanimously agreed to submit the request at its monthly meeting on Wednesday night.

The request originated from Highway Superintendent Steven Smith who asked the board to seek the speed limit reduction at the board’s August meeting.

“It’s a big safety thing,” said Smith, noting traffic passes two athletic fields, the entrance to the Partridge Run Golf Course, and the Maplewood facility in a 55-mile-per-hour speed zone.

That stretch of State Street Road will now include an entrance to a SolAmerica 5-megawatt solar array.

Coming into the village from Rt. 310, a digital speed indicator alerts motorists how fast they are driving. Leaving the village, the speed limit changes from 20 mph when school is in session and 30 mph when there is no school to 55 mph.

“Cars are parked on both sides of the street [at the Pee Wee fields] with kids running in and out between vehicles,” stated Councilman John Taillon at the August meeting.

The petition will be directed to the county, who in turn, will forward the request to the New York State Department of Transportation who will investigate the request.

“The Highway Superintendent and Town Board recognizes that this road is 3570’ which 740’ is currently at 3 mph and this road is populated by pedestrians, children, bikers and motorists traveling to and from Route 310 and State,” the resolution reads.

“The Town Board recognizes that a speed limit reduction from 55 mph to 30 mph would thereby promote an environment of safety for all residents, motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists and would increase public safety for Canton Central School, United Helpers, Canton Day, Pee Wee programs, trail systems and Canton Golf Course.”