Speed limits won't drop at school zones next month

Winnipeg motorists won't notice a lower speed limit at school zones next month, despite the city's efforts to bring in the lower limits by the start of the school year.

The City of Winnipeg has been working on lowering the speed limit in school zones to 30 kilometres an hour from the present 50.

• Lower speed limits at school zones welcomed

But Mayor Sam Katz said Friday that officials are still waiting for approval from the Manitoba government.

"We believe that is going to happen," Katz told reporters.

"Our goal was to have it done by the time everybody's going back to school. Because of the circumstances, it will take a little bit longer."

Katz said changes need to be made to the provincial Highway Traffic Act, but he's still hopeful that the new speed limit will take effect sometime this fall.

"I believe we all want to protect our greatest asset, which is our children, so I think it's very important to slow down in school zones," he said.

Manitoba Premier Greg Selinger says changes are on the way and municipalities should begin to prepare their school-zone bylaws now.

Selinger said the legislation has been passed by cabinet, and the government is now waiting for final approval.

The premier said there have been some delays, but he believes the reduced speed-zone legislation should be ready by mid-September.