City spikes lower speed limits in neighbourhoods

Speed limits in Edmonton neighbourhoods willremain at 50 km/h despite a successful pilot project to lower speeds.

The city's transportation committee killed the project Tuesday, saying it would lead to a patchwork of speed zones.

Changing speed limits across the city would costbetween $10and $12 million, said Coun. Kerry Diotte.

"So let's go for the simple solultionenforce the speed limits that we have," he said. "That's the simple solution, instead of getting into this patchwork of 40 km/h, 50 km/h."

Residents who live in the six communities which were part of the pilot projectwere happy with the reduced speed limit.

"It felt much safer when they introduced the 40 km/h," said Patricia Grell who lives in Woodcroft."People seemed to be paying more attention."

The neighbourhoods that opted for lower speed zones will be allowed to retain them, but other communities won't be permitted to change theirs.