Long-awaited amendments to the City's controversial new traffic bylaw were put forward at City Hall Monday.
Councillors at North Battleford's municipal services meeting heard proposals for changes to the bylaw, but have decided to table the issue until the next municipal services meeting in February.
They expressed a desire to get more information and also more feedback from those who have been interested in the issue, such as the Saskatchewan Truckers Association and the Battlefords Chamber of Commerce.
The traffic bylaw was passed in July, but was met with opposition from truckers over what they saw as oppressive permit fees. The annual fees of $6,000 per truck that drove off the primary truck routes and onto other city streets were seen as prohibitive.
The City developed the permit fees as a way to protect streets not designed to handle the weight of the heavy vehicles.
The fees drew criticism from both the Saskatchewan Trucking Association and Battlefords Chamber of Commerce, who contended the fees would drive potential business out of the city.
Administration has drafted amendments to the traffic bylaw in response to the opposition expressed, with the aim of striking a balance that would preserve the lifespan of the secondary roads without penalizing businesses whose trucks need to use those roads for deliveries.
The option most favoured by administration involves setting a defined delivery route that would allow trucks to haul up to primary weights, but using the premise of the most direct route in and direct route out for those trucks that veer off that route onto the secondary streets.
According to a memorandum prepared by City Clerk Debbie Wohlberg, North Battleford administration is proposing that primary weights be allowed on Highway 4 North, Territorial Drive East and West, Highway 4 South and Battleford Road. Those are the streets that would be able to handle the heavy vehicles and their loads.
All other streets would be designated as secondary weight tolerant, unless designated as having specific weight restrictions. Those truckers wishing to deliver to the downtown core at primary weights are to use Railway Avenue East and 100th Street as their delivery route in and out from the heavy vehicle route. Deliveries made off of 100th and Railway are to be made following the most direct route, and truckers will then return to either 100th Street or Railway Avenue East, whichever is the most direct route, and then proceed to access the heavy vehicle route.
Under the proposed changes, truckers hauling over secondary weights must provide sufficient evidence that proves they are hauling on their prescribed route; failure to do so may result in a substantial fine.
Also, there are certain intersections where right hand turns are to be prohibited, including Railway Avenue East from 101st to 106th Streets. This would apply to operators with semi-trailer units with more than three axles.
As well, traffic on Railway Avenues South and West would be restricted to a weight of 60 per cent of primary weights. Truckers wishing to exceed those marks would need to apply for a heavy haul permit with an applicable permit fee required. Truckers who choose to haul over the maximum allowable weights and not carry the required permit would be subject to a fine.
The proposed changes elicited lively discussion at the meeting Monday. Wohlberg cited the need to strike the right balance that will protect the secondary roads without harming businesses.
"We're trying to come up with a solution to salvage some of our roads that have been identified as the ones being damaged by heavy haul and still trying to allow traffic flow and business to occur within the city."
Councillor Trent Houk were pleased to see the amendments come up for discussion. "Maybe we'll see a light at the end of the tunnel with this," said Houk.
There was considerable discussion about the implications of the proposed bylaw changes, but councillors made clear they want to hear a response from the truckers.
The proposed changes were sent to the Saskatchewan Trucking Association but Wohlberg indicated no response was received from them yet. Both administration and council made known their desire to get feedback from them on what the business implications of the proposed changes might be.
