Region exploring permanent lower speed limits in school zones on regional roads

Thirty one schools across Waterloo Region could be seeing permanent lower maximum speed limits in their school zones.

Region of Waterloo planning staff are recommending the switch after findings from a pilot project launched last June. The region had implemented lower speed limits in school zones on regional roads during school hours only (7 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday to Friday, September to June).

The study showed a reduction in average vehicle speeds, but more drivers were not compliant with the speed limit. This was not the case in the school zones where Automated Speed Enforcement (ASE) was active. Those areas saw improvements in speeds and compliance.

Regional staff expect the 24/7 posted speed limits to reduce confusion, increase the effectiveness of ASE, and help keep communities safe at all times.

If regional councillors approve the recommendation, all school zones on regional roads would become 40 km/h zones except for four.

The four schools are on roads with posted speed limits of 70 km/h or 80 km/h outside of the school zone. The school zones of South Heidelberg Parochial School and Countryside Christian School in Wellesley, as well as St. John’s-Kilmarnock School in Woolwich, will have posted speed limits of 60 km/h, while École Secondaire Catholique Père-René-De-Galinée in Cambridge will be a 50 km/h zone.

Staff also recommended revisiting those zones once speed cameras are installed and other accompanying road changes are made.

The report notes the cost to implementing the recommendation would be no more than $20,000.

The full committee meeting agenda can be viewed here.