The municipality is considering a speed limit reduction along the entire length of Bonhomme Street, including Cabin Creek Drive, to improve safety along one of the town鈥檚 busiest residential corridors.
Currently the speed limit along the majority of the road is 50 km/h, except for a 30 km/h zone between Pyramid Lake Road and Maligne Avenue, which encompasses the Jasper Junior/Senior High School, the Jasper Activity Centre and a portion of Centennial Field. There is also a 30 km/h zone in front of Fireman鈥檚 Park.
A recommendation came before the mayor聽 and council April 12 to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h for the entirety of the street.
The initiative came about after the Grande Yellowhead Public School Division requested the municipality pass a bylaw to enforce the 30 km/h school zone 24 hours a day.
As a result, the Traffic Advisory Committee met in February to discuss the request and unanimously supported a proposal to reduce the speed limit to 30 km/h along the entire length of Bonhomme Street.
David Osborne, the town鈥檚 licensing and enforcement manager, presented the proposal during council鈥檚 committee-of-the-whole meeting.
During his presentation he laid out the rationale behind it, explaining that there are three playgrounds along Bonhomme Street and there are large intersections where several roads converge at the same time. He also pointed out that there are many families who live in the Caribou Creek Housing Complex and a lot of parked cars along Cabin Creek Drive.
He said the committee discussed lowering the speed limit across the entire town, but scaled back its proposal after further discussion and review.
鈥淥verall it鈥檚 about public safety and that鈥檚 the way the Traffic Advisory Committee looked at this,鈥� said Osborne, noting that a formal traffic study was not conducted as part of the proposal.
He also said RCMP Sgt. Rick Bidaisee supported the proposal.
After listening to the presentation, Mayor Richard Ireland suggested creating a 30 km/h zone along roads encompassing Centennial Park, the Jasper Junior/Senior High School, Jasper Elementary School and the Jasper Activity Centre.
He also suggested the Traffic Advisory Committee consider reducing the speed limit at the far end of Patricia Street, near Cabin Creek.
鈥淚f we鈥檙e going to impose a change let鈥檚 look at all the possible areas,鈥� said Ireland, who asked whether the municipality鈥檚 traffic bylaw would have to be amended.
Coun. Rico Damota and Coun. Vonna Arsenault both voiced their support for the proposal.
鈥淚 think lowering the speed limit overall would be a good idea,鈥� said Damota.
Arsenault said she not only supported the current proposal, but would also support reducing speed limits throughout town.
To make the changes, Osborne said the municipality would need to add about 10 more signs as well as several signs to alert drivers of the changes.
The proposal will now go back to the Traffic Advisory Committee for further study before it is presented to council for聽 final consideration.
Paul Clarke
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