Speed Reduction FAQs
Why is the city implementing this pilot?
As our community continues to grow, we are striving to ensure the safety of our residential roadways for all Leduc residents—drivers and pedestrians alike. We have heard from many residents that the current 50 km/hr speed limit in residential neighbourhoods seems too fast, especially in higher-density areas. This pilot aims to significantly increase the safety of residential areas by only slightly slowing down traffic.
When will the 40 km/hr speed limit take effect and where?
All of the residential roads in the Southfork neighbourhood are included in the 40 km/hr speed limit, which will take effect on June 28, 2021. Signs will be posted at the Southfork entrances. Playground zones will remain 30 km/hr and alleys will remain 20 km/hr.
Why Southfork?
Southfork is a higher-density neighbourhood, and a review of complaints received showed that a number of Southfork residents have expressed concerns regarding the speed of traffic in the area. The neighbourhood also has only two access points, making implementation of the pilot simple and less costly.
How long is this pilot expected to be in place?
The pilot will be in place for approximately two years, and then will be brought back to the Traffic Advisory Committee for review and decision on whether it should be kept or expanded to other residential areas.
Will the 40 km/hr speed limit be expanded to include other neighbourhoods, and if so when?
The pilot will be reviewed after two years. Based the pilot’s evaluation, it is possible that it could be expanded to other residential neighbourhoods, but no decisions will be made until that time.
How will the new speed limit be enforced?
An educational approach will be taken to enforcing the new residential speed limit, although any egregious violations will be addressed with regular enforcement procedure.
How much will it cost to implement the pilot?
The costs will be minimal, as Southfork only has two entries and will require only two signs. The estimated cost of the signs is approximately $2,000 – 4,000.
How much safer is 40km/hr than 50km/hour?
Reduction of speed from 50 to 40 km/hr has been attributed to an approximate 40 per cent increase in survival rates in a collision. Slower is safer.
Do you have any road safety statistics specific to Leduc?
From 2016 – 2020, there were seven non-fatal injury traffic collisions in Southfork. In 2019 – 2020, there were 54 reportable and non-reportable traffic collisions involving property damage in Southfork. Slower residential speeds can help to lower these numbers, and lessen injuries and prevent fatalities. Note these numbers do note include collisions at the entrance of Southfork.
TAC receives an average of approximately 30 speed complaints per year in Leduc; approximately 20 per cent of these complaints come from the Southfork neighbourhood.
How will you measure whether the lower speed limit is effective?
Data that TAC may consider includes: adherence to the new speed limit through speed awareness signs in the neighbourhood, instances of speeding complaints, and feedback from residents.
Who can I call to report speeding in my neighbourhood?
Please contact Enforcement Services at 780-980-1537.
Was the public engaged about this pilot prior to its proposal to Council?
Yes, public engagement about the pilot was held virtually in March 2021, and all Leduc residents were invited to participate via an online survey and a live Q&A session with members of the Traffic Advisory Committee on via Zoom. A summary Q&A was posted online after the event, and the full recorded session is available to watch at www.leduc.ca/speed-reduction-pilot. All responses and comments from the public engagement were provided to Council for consideration with the proposed bylaw amendment.
Who can I call if I have questions?
The City of Leduc’s Engineering department can be reached at 780-980-7107.
What is the Traffic Advisory Committee?
The Traffic Advisory Committee (TAC) makes recommendations to Council and the City Manager regarding issues and opportunities in relation to the safe and efficient movement of vehicles and pedestrians within the city.
Have other communities implemented a similar program?
Other communities in Alberta have been considering or are in the early stages of implementing similar programs—Edmonton has implemented in downtown core and specific areas; Calgary voted for city-wide speed reduction that took effect in May; Fort Saskatchewan is currently debating it; and St. Albert approved the lower speed limit on all residential streets in February 2021.
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