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Plans to reduce the residential speed limit from 50 to 40 km/h were curbed by a city committee Wednesday in favour of a public review to determine the appropriate speed.

Some city councillors said they didn’t have enough data to support reducing the speed limit to 40 or even 30 km/h, but agreed to further explore those limits and the rest of a 50-point blueprint to improve pedestrian safety that was presented by city administrators.

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“Until we have more evidence it performs the way we want it to, it’s hard to support,” said Coun. Peter Demong. “I’m more interested in investigating what the root causes of the accidents were.”

Administrators admitted they don’t know the prevalence of speeding as a factor in the 350 to 400 annual vehicle-pedestrian collisions, a fact noted by Coun. Ward Sutherland.

“I’m struggling on focusing on speed limits when we don’t have proper data,” said Sutherland. “It’s very drastic, going to 40 km/h across the board.”