New 30 km/h speed limit approved by council

For the first time in Ottawa, some streetscould see 30 km/h speed limits after council approved the new policy on Wednesday morning.

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• Transportation committee approves 30 km/h speed limits in certain situations

Not all streets would qualify for the new, lower speed limit. Only quiet, narrower local roads with little transit service, or streets where traffic is already travelling at speeds lower than 35 km/h, could see limits lowered to 30 km/h.

Council did approve amotion by Coun. Keith Egli, chair of the transportation committee, to extendthe 30 km/h policy to wider roads that are "at the main pedestrian entrance to a school," and on busier streets where schools are located.

Previously, city rules did not allow for a posted speed limit lower than 40 km/h unless 85 per cent of traffic on the road travels 40 km/h or slower.