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Coun. Bev Esslinger pressed hard for the new playground zone speed limit and decided to requisition the item to council before a vote so it didn’t fail. The issue now goes to full council for debate next Tuesday.

The evidence shows the decrease in speed through the implementation of school zones has increased safety, Esslinger said.

“I don’t think it’s moving too quickly,” she added. “It’s really about keeping the most vulnerable safe.”

Traffic safety engineer Shewkar Ibrahim said an assessment one year after the speed limit around elementary school was implemented showed a 71 per cent reduction in injury collisions involving pedestrians and cyclists.

The speed limit applies from 8 a.m. until 4:30 p.m. on school days.

If approved by council, Ibrahim said implementation would begin by putting signage up for the 178 stand-alone playgrounds, then moving to those adjacent to schools. Installation would be complete by the end of 2017.

The next steps, she said, would be an “intake process” where residents could request a specific green space with no playground equipment to be designated a playground zone.

According to the report, funding for the new safety initiative is available in a reserve fund built up through fines from photo radar tickets. The estimated capital costs for new signs is $1.08 million. The city would also launch a $100,000 driver-education campaign.

Stall on school bus street parking

Meanwhile, the committee declined to make a decision on allowing school buses to park on residential streets during school hours, in this case opting to seek further public input instead.

“Many people have concerns about that,” Esslinger said. “Before we make a decision, it seems to make sense to understand the issue from the public’s perception.”

The city will also work with the school board and bus companies to look into available options, which now expand beyond residential street parking. City officials will also ask the public about allowing school buses to park in church or store parking lots.

The report will be due back to the committee in May 2018, with councillors hoping to have a solution for the 2018-19 school year.

ducook@postmedia.com

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