Changes to Speed Zones

Last month a few playground zones across the city were removed based on some additional analysis of the playground zone guidelines. I've been getting a number of questions from people about the playground zone beside Westlawn School on 95th Avenue between 165th and 167th Street.

The report that was presented in December was an analysis of select locations identified by each member of Council. We had the opportunity to highlight specific areas of concern and then the Administration would use the playground zone guidelines to review those locations identified. I asked for the playground zone on 95th Avenue beside Westlawn to be reviewed since I know many people are frustrated by that location. When the report came back, the recommendation by our Admin was to keep the playground zone.

While I understand why the recommendation was made, I put forward a motion to have the necessary bylaw amendments created so that we can have that playground zone removed on 95th Avenue. The reason I believe we should feel comfortable with the removal of that specific playground zone is because that particular stretch of 95th Avenue operates more like a regular arterial road and our current practice is not to have playground zones on our arterial roads. Along with the design of the road, there are full traffic signals at both 165th Street and 167th Street. That ensures that the east/west traffic will have to stop at a red traffic light so that everyone can safely cross the road.

The motion referenced above did pass and so those draft amendments will tentatively be presented on January 30th to our Community and Public Services Committee with all of Council voting on the change a week later. Therefore we could hopefully see the playground zone along 95th Avenue between 165th and 167th removed sometime in February.