Timmins streets are one step closer to being more snowmobile friendly.
Clerk Steph Palmateer has updated council on a Timmins Snowmobile Club proposal to allow a phased-in plan allowing snowmobiles access to certain streets.
If council approves the updated bylaw, which will likely be brought to the next meeting, snowmobiles with an Ontario Federation of Snowmobile Clubs (OFSC) permit will be allowed access on some streets in Schumacher, Gold Centre, Porcupine, South Porcupine, Mountjoy and Connaught.
“The idea isn’t to open up all the streets to snowmobiles 24/7 to...jump on your snowmobile, drive over to your buddy’s place - that’s not the intent. The intent is to open the streets up to allow access to the trails or to allow trail riders access to various city establishments and businesses,” said Palmateer.
For the trial period the rest of the winter, he said the city will get invaluable feedback from residents and snowmobilers.
He acknowledged a permitting system is needed, explaining it could be a hybrid system where if someone doesn't have an OFSC permit and wants to access a lake, for example, for ice fishing, they would need to buy a city permit.
“Prior to snowmobile season opening in the fall, we will have an iron-clad permit system in place that everyone will be aware of,” he said.
The club first talked to the city about opening up the streets two years ago, and used that feedback to create the phased-in approach.
The proposal would not allow access to streets around schools or busy roads. The Hampton Inn has also asked to be included to allow access to the hotel.
The second phase would include Timmins north and south.
While most of the northern area of Timmins is fairly accessible, most of the downtown core would not be open to snowmobiles.
City administration and Timmins Police also have some conditions for sleds using the roads. They are:
- The driver must be at least 16 years old
- All operators have a valid license and insurance
- The speed limit for snowmobiles is 20 km an hour
- Access is only allowed from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.
- That public consultations in areas affected by the trial period are held before the start of the next snowmobile season
Coun. Andrew Marks said Timmins should be a snowmobile-friendly city.
He reminded anyone with feedback to call Timmins Police at 705-264-1201.
“We might get phone calls, we might get emails in our neighbourhoods and around us, but it’s very important that we direct the residents of the City of Timmins to call the Timmins Police department individually to log any concern or complaint so that they’re tracking it appropriately to give us that information at the end of the studies,” Marks said.
Coun. John Curley also reminded snowmobilers to use the roads.
“The people with the sleds, they would rather use something with less sand on it, so they use the sidewalks,” he said.
He also praised recent patrols focussing on OFSC trails.
“The enforcement they did the other day or a couple weeks ago, it did wonders. The snowmachines that used to go up and down my street with the modified mufflers... they’ve disappeared,” said Curley.
