Photo by Shaun Penner.

By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

City looking at bylaw changes that would include lower speed limits

Aug 4, 2020 | 6:29 PM

Grande Prairie City Council will discuss some changes to the Traffic By-law at its meeting Monday

Among those are lowering the speed limit on the old by-pass and on Wapiti Road north of 68 Avenue from 70 kilometres per hour to 60. The same drop would also happen on Resources Road from 92 to 84 Avenues and on 100 Avenue from Wapiti Road to just east of 124 Street.

Transportation and Safety Engineering Supervisor Robin Hutchinson says they want to reduce the number of collisions along some of these roads.

“I looked at the travel speed, assuming that somebody can maintain the posted speed and if you were to travel one kilometre at 70 kilometres per hour versus one kilometre at 60 kilometres per hour, it would change the travel time from 51 seconds to 60 seconds, so there would be a difference of nine seconds.”

The limit would also go from 80 to 60 on 100 Street from 132 Avenue to the north city limit.

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The changes would also include taking a truck route designation off some streets downtown.

“We would like to keep through traffic out of the downtown area where we’re seeing high levels of congestion. Also, it is about trying to enhance the environment. We’re trying to reduce the number of particulates and pollutants in the downtown core.”

Hutchison told a city committee meeting Tuesday that trucks with what he called “legitimate business” would still be able to use downtown roads if these changes are approved.

He adds some people in the trucking industry want to see a truck route designation on 116 Street extended to the Correction Line Road. It currently turns east at 84 Avenue. He adds discussions are continuing with the County.

The proposals also include allowing trucks hauling snow off city trucks to carry more than the current limit and removing playground zone designations from the street along the ball diamond by the comp and the open field and outdoor rink near Hillside School. Both are close to school zones.

Hutchison says in 2021 city administration will also be doing what he calls a more comprehensive look at speed limits, school and playground zones, and dangerous goods routes. The Traffic Bylaw was last amended in 2016.

“The current Bylaw doesn’t include all of the schools and playground zones that have been built since 2016. The speed limits that were identified were the primary corridors that were reviewed as part of the road safety assessments. We would like to do a more thorough review of the playground zones, school zones, and other speed limits within the city.”

Hutchinson says discussions have taken place with stakeholders about dangerous goods routes, but these cannot be changed without provincial approval.