Council approves new reduced speed school zones

Guelph, Ont., May 24, 2017—Last night, Guelph City Council approved the addition of new reduced speed school zones, and a recommendation to request changes to the Highway Traffic Act. Council did not approve a staff recommendation to change current 30 km/h school zone speed limits to 40 km/h.

“The Ontario Highway Traffic Act only allows municipalities to use time and date specific reduced speed limits where installed signs have flashers or are motorized—a very expensive option to implement City-wide,” noted Allister McIlveen, Manager of Transportation Services for the City. “We’re pleased that Council accepted our recommendation to request that the Ontario Ministry of Transportation change the Highway Traffic Act to allow for the addition of time and date information as tabs below other types of signs.”

Due to current rules under the Highway Traffic Act, all 30 km/h school zone speed limits will continue to be in effect at all times, year round.

Arterial roads, and roads that more than 3,000 vehicles a day use, will 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.

The approved staff recommendations mean more roads around schools will see reduced speed limits as the City will be adding school zones along other roads with direct school activity, such as roads behind or beside schools. For a full list of roads with existing or planned school zone speed limits, visit guelph.ca/traffic.