Katz pushes for reduced school zone speeds

Asstudents head back to school, Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz is moving forward with his campaign to reduce school zone speed limits.

Winnipeg is the only city in western Canada that doesn't require a lower speed around schools,said Katz, who wants the 50 km/h limit dropped to 30 km/h.

"I was just kind of surprised that we don't have it, becauseeverywhere I go in Canada, it's like you know reduced speed zones specifically at elementary schools. It's almost a no-brainer," he said.

"I think it's something everybody accepts as being the right thing to do.I think the safety of our children is of the utmost importance to all of us. I think it's time we moved this forward."

Katzpresented his motion to the executive policy committee, also known as the mayor's cabinet,on Wednesday.

It was endorsed by the EPC members, whowill nowforward itto city council for a deciding vote later this month.

If passed by council, city administratorswill still need to get permission from theprovince to make the change because the rules fall under the Manitoba Highway Traffic Act.

Kiri Shafto, whose children attendLaVarendre elementary school on Lilac Street, just off the busy Corydon Avenue stripin Fort Rouge,said a lot of cars drive very fast past the school and she would welcome the reduced limits.

She came to Winnipeg from Calgary and was surprised the lowerspeed limits weren't already in place.

"As more and more cars park in front of the school, you see people getting frustrated trying to go around them, kids trying to get out of the cars, and parents sort of, you know, [yelling] 'Wait! Don't get out until I'm there,'" she said.

"So I think it's really important."

Tara Lalla, whose children also attend the school, agreed it is time to lower the limits. It's not uncommon to see a vehicle drive through the four-way stops and speed past the school, she said.

"It needs to be taken seriously. I mean just one hit, you know, and then that's it. This is an area where kids are it's obvious, people need to slow down," she said.