Next Steps

Should Council wish to implement 40 km/h speed limits on residential streets, the following next steps would be recommended:

• Develop specific criteria to identify which streets should be signed at 40 km/h.

• Identify a preferred option to implement the 40 km/h speed limit.

• Develop a speed reduction strategy, either as an element of the Vision Zero Action Plan or separately.

• Develop refined cost estimates and bring forward a proposal to Council for consideration as part of budget deliberations, including the recommendation to establish a reserve for sign maintenance.

• At key points in the above steps, carry out public consultation with affected residents.

Risk Analysis:

No critical or significant risks are associated with this informational report.

The following risks have been identified with the options presented:

• Timing risks: all three options, but especially Option 2, require careful coordination of several activities, including some that would be carried out by outside organizations (e.g. utility locates for the installation of new signage). Delays in any of these activities could make this coordination difficult or impossible. This risk is likely minimal for Option 1 & 3 and moderate for Option 2, and can be mitigated by the City’s normal project management practices.

• Community impact risks: reducing the speed limit in residential neighbourhoods may not be supported by all residents. Speed limit reductions without other measures to encourage lower speeds may also cause an increase in speeding complaints and traffic calming requests. These impacts can be mitigated by:

  • Carrying out public consultation before implementing the speed limit reduction (available for all three options),

  • Implementing the speed limit reduction as part of an overall speed reduction strategy (available for all three options),

  • Implementing the speed limit reduction as a pilot program in a limited area before implementing it City-wide (not available for Option 2), or

  • Only implementing the speed limit reduction in neighbourhoods where resident support has been established (not available for Option 2).