Speed Reduction Pilot

What's New

October 3, 2012 - City Council Adopted Speed Reduction Policy (C566)

The Speed Reduction pilot is complete. City Council has adopted the Speed Reduction Policy (C566). The Development of Administrative Procedures (Process) is now in progress and is not finalized.

The purpose of this policy is to allow Community Leagues to request that the City review speed limits for residential roadways within their community for consideration of reducing the speed limit to 40 km/hr. Requests will be referred to the Administration for review in accordance with City Procedures for consideration of speed reduction to 40 km/hr.

City Council Meeting Minutes – October 3, 2012 (Item 6.5)

Speed Reduction Policy (C566)

About the Project

Six communities lowered speed limits to 40 km/h from May-October 2010, as part of a pilot project to study the impact of lower speed limits on overall safety and quality of life:

• Beverly Heights
• King Edward Park
• Ottewell
• Twin Brooks
• Westridge/Wolf Willow
• Woodcroft

New speed limit signs were posted in these neighbourhoods. The six-month project monitored speeding using speed limit signs, digital display signs, and community programs such as Speed Watch and Neighbourhood Pace Cars - before progressing to enforcement.

October 12, 2011 - Council approved Speed Zone Bylaw Amendment

Ottewell, Woodcroft and King Edward Park neighbourhoods will have a permanent speed reduction to 40 km/hr. The 40 km/hr signs in Beverly Heights, Twin Brooks, and Westridge/Wolf Willow have been removed. These communities reverted back to 50 km/hr.

City Council Meeting Minutes - Speed Zone Bylaw Amendment - Item 6.8

Speed Limit Reduction Pilot Follow-up Survey

Planning the Project

Khandker Habib, an assistant professor of transportation engineering and planning at the University of Alberta, evaluated potential communities based on several criteria, including:

• Collision numbers
• Traffic volumes
• Numbers of vulnerable pedestrians
• Driver behaviours

The Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues (EFCL), both Edmonton school boards, and the Edmonton Police Service also provided input.

Pilot Project Results Summary

Community Perception Survey

• 48% reported lower speeds after pilot project ended, while 45% felt it was the same.
• 48% felt pilot project would be very effective in lowering residential speeds.
• 70% indicated the importance of community involvement and support for the success of the pilot project in improving traffic safety in their community.

Speed Analysis

• Overall, operating speeds were reduced by 7%.
• Twin Brooks and Westridge/Wolf Willow had a 11% reduction.
• Ottewell and Woodcroft had a 5.6% reduction.
• Beverly Heights and King Edward Park had a 4.3% reduction.

Tailgating Vehicles

• Results showed no differences in the amount of tailgating vehicles across neighbourhoods.

Collision Data

• Results of the collision analysis were not significant within a short time frame.
• More research is required to find out the impact of the pilot project on the frequency and severity of collisions.

Project History

April 5, 2011 - OTS Presented Report to City Council

Speed Reduction Pilot Report

May to October 2010 - Six communities lowered speed limits to 40 km/h

October 2009 - City Council Initiated Pilot

City Council initiated the residential speed reduction pilot following a presentation by the EFCL.

For more information:

Community Speed Management