Council's move to look at all residential speed limits getting positive response

Edmonton city council's move to look at possible speed-limit reductions across all neighbourhoods is getting some positive response from citizens.

Early next year, council will see a report on changes to the maximum speed limits in neighbourhoods. Most are currently at 50 km/h but some neighbourhoods have already limited speeds to 40 km/h.

A handful of residents CBC News spoke with on Wednesday voiced support for 40 km/h as a new default speed limit.

TheOttewell, King Edward Park andWoodcroftneighbourhoods have already lowered their speed limits to40 km/h after a city review.

Ottewell resident Ron Franks said he ishappy with the changeandwouldn't mind seeing it lowered further.

"To be honest with you, in that area with the cars parking on the street, I think it should be 30km/h]," said Franks. "If kids are playing in between the cars and they step out, 40 [km/h] is too fast."

Ottewell, King Edward Park and Woodcroftfirst saw lower limits when they wereincluded in a speed-reduction pilot project in 2010.

Twin Brooks,Westridge-Wolf Willow and Beverly Heights were also part of the pilot project, but they reverted back to 50 km/h.

Council moved this week to bring in 30 km/h speed limits around all playgrounds. The same limit applies during school hours at all elementary and junior high schools in the city.

• City council approves 30 km/h speed limits near Edmonton playgrounds
• Edmonton seeks more public input on neighbourhood speed zones

A new draft city charter signed by the province last month will allow the cityto make changes to the defaultspeed limits on residential streets.

Ward 12 Coun. Moe Bangasaid he is in favour of a citywide reduction to residential speed limits as a way of "making sure residents, especially younger population, are safer from any possible injuries or fatalities."

Ward 11 Coun. Mike Nickel said he'd prefer the city madedecisions to change speed limits in neighbourhoods on a case-by-case basisinstead of setting a blanket 40 km/h limit across all residential streets.

"Ritchie, in my ward, is not the same as Ekota," said Nickel. "The roads are different. The configurations are different."

Travis.mcewan@cbc.ca