OLDS — Beginning July 1, new school and playground zones and speed limits all year round will come into effect, as will a 30 kilometres per hour (km/h) speed limit in the Uptowne area.
Olds' town council accepted a presentation on the new rules from chief administrative officer Brent Williams and protective services director Justin Andrew during its June 5 meeting.
Two questions remained unresolved: whether the playground rules will remain in effect until 9 p.m. as recommended by administrative staff, and where angle parking will be implemented in Uptowne. The angle parking question was expected to come up again during council's June 12 meeting.
Beginning July 1, École Olds Elementary, Horizon School, Holy Trinity Catholic School, École Deer Meadow School, and Centennial Park will become playground zones.
July 1 was chosen as the implementation date for the changes in order to have “minimal disruption to the community,” a memo on the matter in council’s agenda package said.
"This will allow time to share communication and educate community members, the schools, and the residents around the amended areas of the speed reduction to the maximum speed limit of 30 km/h from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week, year-round,” the memo said.
Council was also told that after consultations with businesses in Uptowne , the speed limit in that area will be cut from 50 km/h to 30 km/h.
The impetus for this change is to make the area safer for pedestrians.
“This comes from concerns regarding pedestrian traffic in the main shopping district crossing the roads and/or from in between parked cars, the upcoming angle parking on the side streets, and the increased activity of patrons on the sidewalks,” the memo said.
“I just wanted to state I am in full support of changing our school zones into playground zones simply for the consistency factor,” Coun. James Cummings said.
“I find it frustrating when you drive through one street and the rules are this and you drive to another school and the rules are that.
“It's confusing, especially for people who didn't grow up learning that.
“It's like, you know, ‘turn left at the old Texaco station that hasn't been there for 30 years.’ I find it challenging. So I'm all for the whole consistency issue.”
Cummings was not so sure he agreed with cutting the speed limit in Uptowne.
“I've asked numerous times of everyone in the protective services department if we actually have an issue with traffic concerns and safety and I keep getting back ‘no, we don't.’
“There's a lot of anecdotal stories of near misses. But there is no data showing that there is a concern for safety and driver pedestrian incidences,” he said.
However, he understood the thinking in that regard.
“Bad driving sometimes needs to be moderated through rule changes. I'm not a big fan of that, but I get it. So I'd like to see how it goes,” he said.
There’s been some discussion about creating more angle parking in Uptowne. Cummings is concerned that could “just create a bigger problem there altogether.”
Coun. Darren Wilson said several residents along Winter Drive have expressed concern about traffic safety there. He asked if the playground in that area could extend to at least part of that street.
Andrew called that “a very valid question,” saying protective services personnel are also concerned about safety in that area. Unfortunately, it doesn't fit Alberta Transportation’s criteria for a playground zone.
One possible solution might be to install some playground equipment along Winter Drive.
“That would actually then change that rule,” he said.
Some residents have posted signs on front yards asking people to slow down.
“I think that that was an excellent initiative that was undertaken by the residents,” Andrew said.
Deputy mayor Harvey Walsh didn't like including some streets in the Uptowne 30 km/h zone, especially at times when there’s little or no traffic.
Mayor Judy Dahl said she personally never drives over 30 km/h in Uptowne.
“My problem is we are never going to change jaywalking in Uptowne Olds,” Dahl said. “I typically go under 30, because all of a sudden, behind an angle-parked car, somebody just jumps across the street.”
Andrew said most people in the Uptowne area already travel 30 km/h or less due to concerns about traffic, pedestrian or otherwise. However, not everyone does.
"I hate to say it, but common sense isn't necessarily the common trend with some of these pieces," he said.
Walsh also questioned the wisdom of ending the playground speed limit time at 9 p.m.
He said in the winter, it gets dark so early that nobody is playing in those playgrounds for hours before 9 p.m. and in the summer, “it's almost 11 (p.m. before it turns dark).”
Andrew understood that concern but said a limit has to be put at some time for efficient enforcement. He said after checking with other municipalities, 9 p.m. seemed to be a common time.
“It may not be perfect, but from an enforcement standpoint, we would like to stick with a time.
“We're certainly open to discussion and modification if that was council's choosing, but it is easier for us to have a set time for enforceability,” he said.
Walsh echoed Cummings’ concern about angle parking, saying he knows some seniors who hesitate to park in Uptowne because they can’t see around big pickups.
A motion by Coun. Wanda Blatz to accept administrative staff’s presentation on the matter passed easily.
