From the Town of Blackfalds:

At the March 26 Council Meeting, Town Council approved Bylaw 1232.19 that included an overall reduction to the speed limit within town limits to 40km/hr.

The Bylaw also aligned school and playground times in town limits to be 7:30 a.m. to 1 hour after sunset.

“Concern over traffic speed limits has been raised for a number of years in Blackfalds as the town has continued to grow.” stated Mayor Richard Poole. He added, “Following a recommendation from our Policing Committee in September 2018, we started the process to move towards a reduced speed limit in town which Council feels will be another important step to making our Community a safer place for both pedestrians and cyclists.”

Blackfalds hosted the Central Alberta Crime Prevention Centre event designed to create community conversation in 2015. The result of that event was a Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) Assessment which included a public lead recommendation that the Town of Blackfalds explore the options that would decrease the speed of traffic.

Though further discussion of this idea, the Town looked at engineered controls, educational components, speed zones and sign improvements.

At the September 2018 Policing Committee meeting, the Committee passed a resolution to recommend that the town’s speed limit be reduced to 40 km/h. This Committee is comprised of members at large, Council members and administrative staff as well as Blackfalds Enforcement and RCMP representation.

Following discussion at the Standing Committee of Council meeting on October 15, 2018, Council unanimously moved to consider the Policing Committee recommendation and approved the resolution at the November 27, 2018 Regular Council meeting.

Following a legal review, the Bylaw had first reading on February 12, 2019, and then public engagement with a Public Hearing on March 12, 2019. Traffic Bylaw 1232.19 was approved at Council on March 26 with a revised implementation date for the 40 km/h speed limit to June 15, 2019.

The key elements in the Bylaw are:

o Vista Trail, South Street, Broadway Avenue (north of Womacks Road) and Cottonwood Drive where the posted speed limit will remain at 50 kilometres per hour.

o School and Playground Zones will remain at 30 kilometres per hour and be in effect from 7:30 a.m. to 1 hour after sunset.

o Highway 2A, where speed limits fall under Provincial jurisdiction, will remain as posted.

Leading up to June 15 and until August 15,2019, the Town will conduct public education & notification activities and following the speed limit implementation date will be a compliance program to extend education and awareness for the bylaw ahead of issuing tickets.

For further details visit the Town website at blackfalds.com.

Read Bylaw 1232.19 here.

See the map of the roads remaining at 50 km/hr here.