Survey respondents OK with status quo for Saskatoon speed limits

People in Saskatoon seem to be just fine with the way things are when it comes to speed limits in the city.

A recent survey the city did about potential changes to speed limits shows 65 per cent of respondents want speed limits to stay just where they are on all of the city’s streets.

About half of those who took part, 52 per cent, wanted to see a speed lower than 50 kilometres per hour on local streets. But the city says in a release the majority of those who responded prefer no change to speed limits for collector and arterial streets.

Of those who support a lower speed on local streets, 40 km/h is the preferred speed limit compared to 30 km/h.

The city says it is reviewing the speed limits after receiving comments from people who were concerned about safety.

Those comments were heard during neighbourhood traffic reviews.

The review includes assessing lowering the speed limit in residential areas from 50 km/h to 40 km/h or 30 km/h, changes to the speed limit in school zones, and consideration of establishing playground zones, and zones for areas with a high number of seniors.

The city says 14,970 people participated in the online survey, which was open to all citizens, and another 414 people were invited to complete a third-party phone or online survey striving to represent people from all age groups and areas of Saskatoon.

The review will go before council on Monday, but no decisions are expected at that time.

The administration is planning to present a report with recommendations on residential speed limits to the standing policy committee on transportation in August.