Speed Limits Being Lowered in Parts of 10 Mississauga Neighbourhoods

If you worry about speeding on local roadways, you might be happy to hear that speed limits are being lowered in parts of 10 Mississauga neighbourhoods this fall.

And if you have a heavy foot, you might want to watch your speedometer more closely. 

On Oct 2, members of the general committee supported amendments to the traffic bylaw that will gradually lower speeds on residential streets from 50 to 40-kilometres per hour. 

This year, 10 neighbourhoods across the city will have their speed limits reduced to 40 km/h.

These neighbourhoods will receive the 40 km/h speed signs in the fall of 2019:

• Ward 1 – Neighbourhood boundaries between South Service Road, Etobicoke Creek, Lakeshore Road East and Dixie Road
• Ward 2 – Neighbourhood boundaries between South Sheridan Way, Southdown Road, Royal Windsor Drive and Winston Churchill Boulevard
• Ward 3 – Neighbourhood boundaries between Bloor Street, Dixie Road, Dundas Street East and Tomken Road
• Ward 4 – Neighbourhood boundaries between Bloor Street, Cawthra Road, Dundas Street East, Canadian Pacific Railway, Hurontario Street and Central Parkway East
• Ward 5 – Neighbourhood boundaries between Canadian National Railway, Goreway Drive, Derry Road East and Airport Road
• Ward 6 – Burnhamthorpe Rd W to Dundas St W and Credit River to Erindale Station Rd
• Ward 7 – Neighbourhood boundaries between Queensway, Hurontario Street, Queen Elizabeth
• Ward 8 – Neighbourhood boundaries between Unity Drive, Winston Churchill Boulevard, Burnhamthorpe Road West and Ridgeway Drive
• Ward 9 – Neighbourhood boundaries between Canadian Pacific Railway, Derry Road and Winston Churchill Boulevard
• Ward 10 – Derry Road West, Tenth Line West, Britannia Road West and Ninth Line
• Ward 11 – Neighbourhood boundaries between Britannia Road West, Credit River, Eglinton Avenue West and Mississauga Road/Queen Street South

The reduced speed limit is part and parcel of the city’s Transportation Master Plan and is related to safety goals contained in Vision Zero–a plan being adopted by multiple municipalities to make streets safer.

“The new 40 km/h speed limit in our neighbourhoods advances Vision Zero by matching speeds to the types of activity on a street,” said Mayor Bonnie Crombie in a statement. 

“It will also promote active transportation by making it safer for our families to walk, ride, play and commute. It’s another tool we can use to address speeding in our neighbourhoods and help keep pedestrians and cyclists safe.”

The city says staff consulted with city councillors to determine priority neighbourhoods to receive the new lower 40 km/h signage in this first round.

“Reducing speed limits in our local neighbourhoods is an important part of the city’s Vision Zero initiatives that was supported by the Road Safety Committee,” said Ward 9 Councillor Pat Saito, who is chair of the city’s Road Safety Committee. 

“It takes small steps like this one to work toward reducing the number of pedestrians injured on our roads.”

Residents will notice that speed limits are being lowered beyond school zones. 

“Currently, 40 km/h speed zones are posted in front of elementary schools, but the speed limit through the rest of the neighbourhood is 50 km/h,” said Andy Harvey, director, traffic management and municipal parking. 

“This amendment will see the city gradually reduce speed limits throughout the entire neighbourhood from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. The first 10 neighbourhoods will be adjusted to 40 km/h this year by placing signs at every entry and exit to a neighbourhood.”

In 2017, the government of Ontario passed new legislation under the Safer School Zones Act (Bill 65) that amended the Highway Traffic Act, allowing municipalities to designate areas where speed limits can be lower than 50 km/hr.

The bylaw will come before city council on Oct. 9 for final approval. 

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