NEWS RELEASE
CITY OF GUELPH
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More roads around schools will now have reduced speed limits in place for the beginning of the new school year. The City is adding 16 reduced speed school zones across the City, including along roads with direct school activity, such as roads behind or beside schools. The new reduced speed school zones were approved by Guelph City Council in May and will all be in place for the start of the new school year next week.
“We’re almost finished installing all the signs for the new reduced speed school zones, and they’ll all be in place by Tuesday morning,” said Steve Anderson, Supervisor of Traffic Engineering for the City. “The reduced speed limits take effect as soon as the signs are in place on a road.”
One new “40 km/h when flashing” reduced speed school zone was added on Scottsdale Drive for Priory Park Public School and École élémentaire catholique Saint-René-Goupil. The reduced speed is in effect in effect 8–9 a.m. and 3-4 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June.
Fifteen new 30 km/h school zones, in effect at all times, were added as follows (alphabetical by school name):
- École Arbor Vista Public School: McCann Street
- Holy Rosary Catholic School: Emma Street
- École Guelph Lake: Couling Crescent and Severn Drive
- Guelph Montessori School: Galt and Fergus Streets
- King George Public School: Metcalfe and St. Catharine Streets
- Resurrection Christian Academy: Dumbarton Street and Knightswood Boulevard
- Sacred Heart Catholic School: Alice Street
- Trillium Waldorf School: Wilton Road
- Waverley Public School: Windsor Street
- Westminster Woods Public School: Hall Avenue
- Westwood Public School: Westwood Road
School zone speed limits
Arterial roads, and roads used by more than 3,000 vehicles a day have “40 km/h when flashing” signs in place with the reduced school zone speed limit in effect 8–9 a.m. and 3-4 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June.
Local roads used by less than 3,000 vehicles a day have 30 km/h school zone speed limits that are in effect at all times, year round, as per the current rules under the Highway Traffic Act.
“We would like to take this opportunity to remind everyone to make safety their priority,” noted Anderson. “Back-to-school is a busy time of year with everyone adjusting to new schedules and a general increase in traffic. Leaving extra time for travel—whether to school or work—will help ensure everyone arrives safely.”
Highway Traffic Act
Last May Council also accepted staff’s recommendation to request that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation change the Highway Traffic Act to allow for the addition of time and date information on all sign types. The Act currently only allows municipalities to use time and date specific reduced speed limits where installed signs have flashers or are motorized. The City is putting information together for the Ministry to move this recommendation ahead.
For a full list of roads with existing or planned school zone speed limits, or to request a review of a road for a school zone, visit guelph.ca/traffic.
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