Calgary may slow speed limits in residential areas down to 40 km/h

Neighbourhoods in Calgary are lobbying for there to be a slower speed limit of 40 kilometres an hour. Some communities could even see lower speeds just into the new year.

Mackenzie Towne would like to be one of these neighbourhoods but, “there currently is no process in place that would allow for a community-wide or even road specific reduction of speed limit from 50 to 40,” according to an e-mail from the Livable Streets Division.

The idea will be put to the administration to work with the community, as residents have displayed an interest in lowing the speed limit. Some locals, however, are saying the streets in Mackenzie Towne are too narrow and they are concerned about the current speed people are going.

With this large of a change for Mackenzie Towne there will have to be a big investment of both money and time; a town meeting in December will allow for further talks on the issue.

In October, the neighbouring town of Okotoks announced that it would to slow down by 10 kilometres an hour, making the new speed limit 40 kilometres an hour, reports Highriver online. Mayor Bill Robertson reported that the residential areas in Okotoks will see the most drops in speed as the community is growing he wants to better ensure everyone’s safety.

Surprisingly, Airdrie has kept things even slower. “Almost all of Airdrie’s residential communities have a speed limit of 30km/h,” notes their 2015 Traffic Safety Plan.

What do you think: should Calgary lower speed limits in residential areas to 40 or even 30 km/h? Answer in the the comment box.