TOWN CONTINUES TO LOOK AT REDUCING DEFAULT SPEED LIMIT

Discussions on whether to lower the Town of Oakville's default speed limit will continue in 2023.

Collecting data to determine whether the default speed limit should change from 50 kilometres per hour to 40 km/h was just one of the topics in the 2022 Neighbourhood Traffic Safety Program update, which was discussed by council on Monday, Feb. 27.

The progress report summarizes the town's achievements over the last year and the ongoing work planned in 2023 to make Oakville's residential streets safe for all road users of all ages.

The Neighbourhood Traffic Safety Program, approved by council on Oct. 18, 2021, features six components that aim to address speeding and aggressive driving in Oakville's residential neighbourhoods and enhance safety.

These components include: traffic calming, pedestrian crossovers, community safety zones, Automated Speed Enforcement and a pilot initiative that looks at a reduced default speed limit of 40 km/h.

Another component of the program is Vision Zero, a philosophy that all traffic deaths are preventable and that it is the shared responsibility of policymakers and designers to ensure a safety system for all road users.

Some of the safety program's key accomplishments in 2022 included:

• Implementation of the 40 km/h area pilot in the Lakeshore Woods neighbourhood and the collection of speed data from this pilot area as well as pilot areas in the West River and Heritage Way neighbourhoods

• Installation of 19 pedestrian crossovers

• Implementation of 11 community safety zones where public safety is a paramount concern and certain Highway Traffic Act fines are doubled

• Completion of traffic calming surveys on 22 streets

• Completion of the Vision Zero study, which looked at the town's standing with respect to road safety performance and programs

• Completion of the design for two pedestrian signals,

with the design for two traffic signals initiated.

Town staff said the town's work plan for 2023 will build on these successes and continue to implement a range of initiatives aimed at achieving safer residential roads, including:

• Completion of a speed data analysis collected from the three 40 km/h pilot areas and presentation of the results to council in the third quarter of 2023, to determine next steps for the potential reduction of the town's default speed limit

• Implementation of five community safety zones and continued assessment of new requests as needed

• Installation of advance notification signs in 14 community safety zones as part of the town's new Automated Speed Enforcement program. The implementation of Automated Speed Enforcement cameras is expected in the third quarter of 2023

• Implementation of traffic calming measures in front of four schools, Nautical Boulevard and any additional warranted locations based on the town's established criteria

• Continuation of traffic calming surveys and assessment of new requests

• Installation of 30 new pedestrian crossovers.

"The town's Neighbourhood Traffic Safety Program

emphasizes council's commitment to a safe and livable Oakville," said Oakville Mayor Rob Burton.

"Whether you walk, cycle, or drive, this program helps to promote both safer driving and pedestrian behaviour. The town will continue to engage with residents and community partners to identify areas of concern and to develop and enhance strategies tailored to the unique needs of various neighbourhoods."

Town staff said education and ongoing engagement with the public will continue to be a critical aspect of the program, to promote safer driving, cycling and pedestrian behaviour in residential areas and reduce speeding and aggressive driving.

Staff will also provide annual updates to council and the public on the program's ongoing initiatives and key milestones.

For more information, visit https://www.oakville.ca/residents/speeding-traffic-calming.html.