With recent Montreal Police Department operations nabbing many motorists for speeding on Mackle Road near Parkhaven Road, Cote Saint-Luc Mayor Anthony Housefather has ordered a review of posted speed limits along the Mackle stretch.
The general limit in CSL used to be 50 km/h. This was lowered to 40 km/h in the last couple of years, in line with new residential street limits across most of the island. CSL also restricts speed to 30 km/h next to parks, playgrounds and schools.
What do you think about the speed limit along Mackle? Slower, faster? This is your chance to make your opinion known. Click ‘Leave a comment’ above.
Read the full article in the Suburban right here: 2011-12-07 Suburban Mackle Speed
Norm Bazar
Dec 14, 2011 @ 00:07:02
I have stopped using it because it is just too slow. I would like to see the speed limit higher. By lowering the speed limit traffic is diverted to other more populated streets which makes little sense. The school zone is fenced so there is little chance of kids running out into traffic yet it remains at 30KPH.
Jason B
Dec 14, 2011 @ 08:55:04
and a stop sign leaving the mall on mackle perhaps..(both sides) hard to get out…. (like on heywood)
G.J. Nashen
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:43:45
Have a look back soon. Changes coming to the mall exit onto Mackle between Cavendish and Centennial.
G.J. Nashen
Dec 14, 2011 @ 09:44:54
It will indeed be reviewed by the Transportation committee that I chair. I believe we will come up with a proposal for Council that will improve upon the situation.
Jeff Joseph
Dec 15, 2011 @ 09:03:22
Having used, and continuing to use, Mackle for years, I think much of the earlier problems with the previous limit were rectified when the solid-lined bicycle lane was established because more drivers now treat the stretch as a single-lane road and the instances of cars treating it like a freeway complete with high-speed inside passes and runs through stop signs diminished greatly (the latter which still exists but not as much as it used to.) In fact, I think it would be a better idea to apply the 30 limit only during daytime hours in the summer months when you have a substantially higher number of children and pre-teens (you know – the ones Mayor Applebaum and his stick-wielding gang of disciples pretend don’t exist?) walking in the area – typically between or to Trudeau Park and the recreation facilities at Parkhaven) – and the elevated bicycle, dog park, and moving seniors (from Maimondes) traffic.
I think the far more dangerous situation (even more than the Cavendish Mall exit traffic of which what I will say amounts to a byproduct of the bigger problem coming up) has been occurring for months involving the left turns off Cavendish onto Mackle. With extra traffic pushed there because of the closures to the former main road entrance due to the relocation of the CLSC and the numerous high-traffic business closer to that intersection (IGA, Pharmaprix), there are far more drivers than ever before whom are recklessly avoiding the longer left-turn lane lineup and using the middle lane at the interchange to turn at often high speeds. This creates an extremely dangerous situation, not only because of the high number of seniors who foot-cross there but also because of the apartment driveway, bus top, and gas station entrance that all come up in the first 10m after that turn and the resulting stopped traffic using such. In fact, with the first winter coming up since that traffic diversion, I genuinely believe we are going to see fatalities there in the coming months if police officers do not waste time running blitz ticketing operations hiding at the Parkhaven parking lot portion of the rec facility and start keeping an eye on this situation where I have yet to see even one car/monitor ever (which says much considering I use the intersection at least a dozen times a week.) In fact, before I would explore aiding anything coming out of Cavendish, I would look seriously at re-adjusting the timing of the Cavendish-Mackle stoplights so as to increase the length of time provided for the left turns and decreasing the length of time for southbound Cavendish traffic (which almost never goes beyond 3-4 cars deep and has practically no instances of pedestrians crossing in the same direction.
I would challenge any member of CSL Council and/or the transportation committee to witness this intersection – particularly from mid-afternoon to early evening – and see if they can come up with a differing viewpoint as to what I have said here. Best of luck
G.J. Nashen
Dec 15, 2011 @ 12:30:57
Jeff,
Thanks for your thoughtful analysis and wise comments. I agree in general with your findings. We will be making changes to ease the flow on Mackle but several factors are already having an effect. I proposed the bike lanes which have the effect of slowing down traffic significantly. I heard from one unfortunate motorist who was caught by police trying to pass another vehicle by driving on the bike lane only to find out this infraction carries a hefty ticket.
I also proposed lowering the limit during the summer months but police felt this was problematic in terms of driver awareness and police enforcement.
We are also adding stop signs and a crosswalk at the IGA exit onto Mackle. This will make it safer for entering and exiting the mall and for those residents of the Habitations Mackle apartment who refuse to walk to the nearest corner and prefer to put their lives at risk by foolishly jaywalking on this congested strip of Mackle.
The temporary closure of the main entrance of the mall on Cavendish has just ended too and with the opening of The Avenue traffic is starting to pan out among the access points. Next spring the rear entrances off the extended Kellert will allow more access points.
I pass through Cavendish and Mackle several times a day and am all too familiar with the sight of older residents with walkers and canes negotiating the intersection. We’ve recently repaired the pedestrian signal there giving ample time to these folks and the traffic signals are revamped to allow for maximum intervals and various times of the day. If motorists are so impatient that they feel compelled to make illegal manouveurs it is up to our police department to nab them and issue a well deserved ticket.
Thanks again.
S. Halpern
Jan 20, 2012 @ 15:42:44
The Mackle speed limit should be 40 or 50 kph; there’s no reason for it to be 30 kph, except perhaps during summer camp sessions. It is one of the city’s main thoroughfares; make it easier to use.
G.J. Nashen
Jan 20, 2012 @ 22:44:43
Looks like you’ve been reading my mind. Stay tuned for my committee’s recommendations on this issue…