By Jordan Baker
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It has been nearly two years since the Estevan public was asked what speed limit would be most preferred in residential areas of the city.
The margin was slim, but during the October 2012 municipal election when the plebiscite was put to voters, those favouring the change in speed limit outnumbered those who didn't by 26, 1,468 to 1,442.
Shortly after that, council passed a motion to honour the majority of votes and move forward with the process of changing the speed limits. The lone member of council to, at the time, vote against the motion was Councillor Dennis Moore, who wasn't sure the reduction in speed by 10 km/h would garner any results and asked motorists to use common sense when driving in order to help make streets safer.
The issue has since been on the backburner at City Hall, as administrators have sought to get a handle on city finances and no bylaw has been written.
Council expressed some interest in making it a priority again during the Aug. 11 regular council meeting, as Lori Carr requested an update on the speed limit's status.
Estevan Police Chief Paul Ladouceur noted the matter has been given to the newly reformed Estevan Traffic Committee, which will be reviewing an appropriate plan to implement the new limits, particularly in regards to how signage will be erected.
They expect to present a recommendation to council early this fall.
Mayor Roy Ludwig said following that recommendation, work could begin between public works and the City engineering department to project costs and determine the size of the signage that should be placed on the roadways entering Estevan.
He said the majority of council agreed to follow through with the results of the plebiscite, and while the process has been slow, there is movement coming on the traffic changes.
"It was close, but the still, majority of our citizens wanted the speeds reduced. Because of budgetary restraints, we have taken awhile looking at it because of all of the signage that would have to be implemented and bought," said Ludwig.
He said the traffic committee is looking into introducing signage in a different way than placing new speed signs on every street in Estevan that will have a new lowered speed. The majority will move to 40km/h, so the plan may be to notify motorists of the 40 km/h speed limit with signs on the boundaries of the city as drivers enter Estevan. On the interior of the city, any stretch of road that isn't 40 km/h will be posted, including the main arterials that will remain 50 km/h.
"That is still in the traffic committee's hands but that's, kind of, the way we might be going," noted Ludwig. "That's probably what they'll come back with."
He said the "blanket" posting of 40 km/h, with signage identifying any variance in the speed makes more sense than placing speed signs on the majority of street corners.
"It would be simpler and a lot less costly for us."
Ludwig also affirmed council's desire for the reduction in speed limits last week.
"It is the right way to go, especially in the residential areas," he said, adding that there will always be issues with speeders and other traffic violators no matter what speed limit is posted.
The mayor said he sees the implementation of the speed limit changes as a budgetary item, to come up during deliberations for the 2015 City budget. He noted if everything is approved, the signs could be ordered with the intention of putting everything up in the spring.
