Saskatoon transportation committee to discuss reducing speed limits on residential streets

Saskatoon city council's transportation committee will discuss reducing residential speed limits at its next meeting on Sept. 7.

The transportation committee's recommendation will then be debated at the Sept. 30 city council meeting.

In a news release on Thursday, the city said its administration recommends lowering the speed limit to 40 km/h on local and collector streets in residential areas.

In 2018, city council asked the administration to develop a detailed framework for revising posted speed limits on neighbourhood streets.

According to the news release, city council members have heard repeated concerns about speeding in residential areas. These concerns were also reportedly expressed at neighbourhood traffic review engagement events, the city said.

In June, the transportation committee received a report featuring technical information and survey results from Saskatoon residents following a review of the speeding issue.

According to the city, the collision data and traffic safety best practices showthat lower speeds on residential streets will reduce crashes and "the seriousness of traffic-related injury and fatalities."

Sixty-five per cent of respondents to an open survey (14,970 respondents) said they prefer there to be no change to the speed limit on all streets.

However, 52 per centof respondents to a third-party supplemental survey (414 respondents) said they prefer a speed limit lower than 50 km/h on local streets in residential areas of Saskatoon.

If city council makes a decision to changespeed limits, administration will present options for speed limits in school and playground zones, and areas with a high concentration of seniors and neighbourhood bike lanes.