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Community advocates pushing for lower speed limits on residential roads scored a major win Wednesday, with Edmonton voting to formally reopen the debate.

Several community groups have lobbied for 30-km/h to 40-km/h limits on local residential roads. The city will undertake a formal public consultation to see if residents agree.

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It would be a citywide change, a departure from the current approach that requires neighbourhoods to secure two-thirds support from residents before their community has a speed limit of 40 km/h.

“We either have to be city wide or not at all,” said Coun. Andrew Knack, who introduced the motion Wednesday at urban planning committee

“To do it community by community doesn’t make sense,” said Knack, suggesting that’s more frustrating for drivers. Speed limits would remain at 50 km/h or 60 km/h for the larger collector and arterial or main roads.

Paths for People, the Edmonton Federation of Community Leagues and other residents have lobbied for lower speed limits because of damage inflicted by faster cars. They cited statistics from the World Health Organization, suggesting pedestrians have a 90 per cent chance of surviving when hit by a car travelling 30 km/h, compared to less than a 50 per cent chance when the vehicle is going 45 km/h.