Reducing Speed Limits on Local & Collector Streets

The City of Stratford is considering reducing the posted speed limit in residential areas from 50 km/h to 40 km/h and is seeking public input. Vehicle speed and pedestrian safety have been the top concerns we have heard from residents, with many requests for lower speed limits.

Studies show that speeding is a significant contributing factor leading to severe injuries and fatal collisions worldwide. The likelihood of survival in a collision between a vehicle and a pedestrian is approximately 40 percent when the vehicle is travelling at 50 km/h. However, the likelihood of survival increases to 75 percent when the vehicle is travelling at 40 km/h or below. Driving at lower speeds enables drivers to stop within a shorter distance, have a wider field of vision, and provide more time to react to road hazards or other road users.

The City has reduced speed limits within school zones and on some other streets such as John Street, Mornington Street, Britannia Street, West Gore Street, and Devon Street. Currently, 37% of collector streets and 4% of local streets have posted speed limits of 40km/h.

The City is considering two options for a speed limit reduction. Option 1 is to implement a City wide speed limit reduction in all residential areas and option 2 is to conduct a speed limit reduction pilot program in one neighbourhood.

Option 1:
Local and collector streets are being considered for a speed limit reduction. A speed limit reduction would not include Provincial Highways, truck by-pass, or arterial roads. Examples of local residential and collector streets being considered included in this review are Douglas Street, Glastonbury Drive, Lightbourne Avenue, Blake Street, Brunswick Street, Graff Avenue, and Willow Street, to name a few. Examples of roads not included in this review include Huron Street, Ontario Street, Erie Street, Lorne Avenue, O'Loane Avenue, and Romeo Street, to name a few.

Option 2:

A pilot project would be done in one neighbourhood to evaluate the effectiveness of a 40km/h speed limit and would take approximately a year to complete. If the project is successful, neighbourhood reduced speed limits could be considered on a City wide scale.

Your input on this matter is important.

Please complete the brief online survey below. For those who need it, paper copies of the survey will also be available at City Hall (1 Wellington Street) at the main floor reception desk and at the Clerk’s Office on the ground floor.

The survey results and comments will assist staff in preparing a report to City Council.

Public input will be received up until May 31, 2023.

UPDATE:

A report titled “40 km/h Speed Limits in Residential Areas” (ITS23-028) was brought to the Infrastructure, Transportation and Safety Committee meeting in November 2023, with the recommendation to implement neighbourhood area 40 km/h speed limits throughout the City on local and collector streets.

The committee decision was to table the topic. A motion to table (lay on the table) a particular matter removes the subject from consideration until Council votes to take it from the table. In other words, no action is being taken on this matter at this time.