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City set to get rid of 30 km/h school zones

Recommendation calls for city-wide 40 km/h zones near schools
school zone

The city is set to put an end to 30 km/h speed limits in school zones because they have had little effect on reducing speed.

A staff recommendation heading to City Council's meeting of the Committee of the Whole on Monday recommends dropping all 30 km/h zones in favour of a city-wide 40 km/h speed limit near schools when school is in session.

The staff report is also recommending that the 40 km/h limit be extended to more roads surrounding schools if certain criteria is met.

"The implementation of the reduced speed limits within elementary school zones has had a minor positive impact on the wellness and safety of children travelling to and from school," reads the staff report.

"City staff found that the introduction of 30 km/h and 40 km/h SSZ (specialized school zones) reduced average driving speed by about 3 km/h, and that 30 km/h zones were not more effective at reducing average speed than 40 km/h zones."

The report says the public, and the Guelph Police Service, are both in favour of 40 km/h zones and that most other municipalities have gone with the single 40 km/h zones.

All 45 elementary schools in the city have one of the two special speed limits in place.The city introduced the two tier reduced school speed zones in 2014 and staff has been collecting data since then.

 


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Tony Saxon

About the Author: Tony Saxon

Tony Saxon has had a rich and varied 30 year career as a journalist, an award winning correspondent, columnist, reporter, feature writer and photographer.
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