Council to soon decide on lowering residential speed limits
Posted Jan 29, 2021 08:34:46 AM.
Last Updated Jan 29, 2021 08:35:26 AM.
CALGARY (660 NEWS) – A push to lower residential speed limits in Calgary will be back before city council next week.
The proposal would see speed limits reduced to 40 km/hr an hour on neighbourhood streets.
The topic was last discussed in November when council voted to delay any decisions on speed limits to a later date.
RELATED: Council votes to delay decision on lowering residential speed limits
Some on council recommended the idea of putting the issue to a public vote, something Common Sense Calgary says should happen.
The advocacy group has launched an online petition calling for the speed limit vote to be put to a referendum during the October municipal election.
Council must let Calgarians decide whether to reduce speed limits or not, by holding a vote of all Calgarians in conjunction with October's municipal election. Sign the petition now:#yyc #yyccc https://t.co/IcbfBdphfy
— Common Sense Calgary (@CommonSenseYYC) January 27, 2021
Common Sense Calgary argues residents should have the final say and not council members.
“Council and, even more importantly, unelected City Staff should never forget that they serve at the pleasure of the people,” the petition reads. “Yet for some reason, City Administration think that you shouldn’t get a say on what Calgary’s speed limits should be.”
Administration did look at the possibility of a referendum last year but has since told council to vote against that idea, claiming it would be too confusing to voters.
If the speed limits are approved by council on Feb. 1, they could come into effect by April.