Speed limit lowered in Halifax neighbourhood where cars 'fly down the streets'

Cars driving through Halifax's Uniacke Square neighbourhood will need to slow down after the city reduced the speed limitin the area by 10 kilometres per hour.

It's part of thecity's initiative to improve road safety andmove toward zero fatalities and injuries for all road users, according to a news release from the Halifax Regional Municipality.

Late last month, HRM council proposed doubling the city's traffic calming budget after several councillors raised concerns about speeding and road safety.

The boundaryfor the new speed limitgoes north-south from North to Cogswellstreets and east-west from Gottingen to Barringtonstreets. But the speed limit outside the boundaryon those four main roads isnot changing.

Community reaction

"To be honest, I'm not sure how helpful it will be if Gottingen Street isn't also changed," said Sarah Griffin, who works at the St. George's Youth Net on Maitland Street.

The non-profit organization runs free programming for kids in the community.Griffin said staffwalk about 30 students over from nearby Joseph Howe Elementary for after-school programs every day.

"There's often a lot of speeding,and we directly cross GottingenStreet on our way here every day. It's definitely not a crosswalk that we let the kids do alone. We always walk with them," she said.

Kyle Hamilton, who lives in Uniacke Square, agreed that speeding on Gottingen Street is a problem.

However, Hamiltonsaid he's glad toseethe changes coming to the other streetsbecause drivers often cut through his neighbourhood to avoid traffic.

"We've had people that fly down the streets and have no regard for the kids that are crossing the roads," he said.

"It causes other problems because a fight breaks out and parents come outside, everyone gets angry.It's messed up. I've seen some reallycrazy things over people driving down this road. It can get really, really bad."

Hamilton, who's lived in the areawith his young son for about six years, said he thinks the speed limit should be lowered to 25 kilometres per hour at most.

More speed reductions to come

Speed limits on public roads, which default at 50 kilometres per hour,are legislated by the province. But under the Motor Vehicle Act, the municipality can request a reduction in speed limits.

The city is working to identify other neighbourhoods where a similarreduction could be implemented.

Crews will begin posting new speed limit signs in the Uniacke Square neighbourhood in the coming days, with work expected to be completed by next week.