The City of Thunder Bay has deferred a proposal which would effectively ban most heavy trucks through the city. A vote was scheduled for this week, but council will instead present the issue again in June.
An advisory from the city noted that, in the interim, city administration will conduct further consultation with industry and local businesses who say the proposed changed would impacted them negatively.
If adopted, the bylaw would force heavy trucks bypassing Thunder Bay to use Highway 11-17 and Highway 61 exclusively and would also designate routes within the city to include Hodder Avenue south to Main Street via Water Street, as well as heavy truck routes between the East End and Mission Island.
In a letter to Thunder Bay Mayor Keith Hobbs and City Council last month, the Ontario Trucking Association pointed out that vital arterial routes would be off-limits to most trucks engaged in Northern Ontario and Western Canadian trade.
As an alternative to restricting traffic on key trade roadways, OTA recommended the city designate portions of these routes as community safety zones to ensure a higher level of speed compliance and safety.
The Association says the plan is a good compromise by ensuring these historic trade routes remain open while also addressing the needs of local constituents to slow down traffic down in these areas.