Saskatoon committee endorses extending school zone times, adding playground speed zones

Saskatoon could soon extend the time school zones are in effect and introduce new speed limits for drivers passing a playground.
On Monday the city’s transportation committee approved recommendations from city administration, which would be implemented in 2022.
Jay Magus, director of transportation for the city, said children are on school grounds outside of the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. timeframe in which school zone speeds are in effect, so it made sense to extend the school zone speed limits.
“Extracurricular and after school activities extend hours of use of the school, children access playground equipment at schools and parks throughout the year,” Magus said.
“This sets clear expectations for driver behaviour in the vicinity where children may be adjacent to the road.”
The city also recommends removing school zone speed limits from high schools and instead designating those areas as school areas with no reduced speed limit.
On top of the extension of school zone speed limits, the city’s administration recommended slowing drivers to 30 km/h in areas where a playground is adjacent to a street.
Playground speed limits would also be in effect throughout the year, seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Magus said playground zones would reduce risk of conflicts between vehicles and children, provide warning for drivers and require them to slow down.
The city said the signage required for these changes sits at $830,000.
In terms of speed zones for areas in the city with a high concentration of seniors, the city said it’s looking at traffic-calming measures and extending crosswalk times in areas with high pedestrian volumes.
The proposal will head to city council for approval.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
China rebukes U.S., Canadian navies for Taiwan Strait transit
China's military rebuked the United States and Canada for 'deliberately provoking risk' after the countries' navies staged a rare joint sailing through the sensitive Taiwan Strait.

Alcohol policies in every province, territory receive failing grade in meeting public health standards: report
A new report has found that alcohol policies in all provinces and territories are failing to meet public health standards.
Four kids and one man drown after Quebec fishing accident: provincial police
A fishing excursion ended in tragedy on Saturday when four children died in a village in northeastern Quebec, provincial police said.
Antipsychotic drugs use increased in Canadian long-term care homes, pointing to possible quality-of-care issues: study
New study finds increase in antipsychotic drugs use in long-term care homes across Canada, despite no significant increase in behavioural symptoms – something that may expose a potential area of concern for quality of care, researchers say.
Officials declare Halifax-area wildfire largely contained as rain brings relief
Heavy rain and some military reinforcements arrived to assist efforts on Saturday to quell the wildfires that have destroyed homes and caused the evacuation of thousands of people across Nova Scotia.
Forest fires in Northern Quebec: Another 2,000 evacuated from their homes
Another northern Quebec town was evacuated due to an out of control wildfire on Saturday as the federal government confirmed that Canadian Forces personnel would be deployed to help combat forest fires in the province.
'Very good outcome' for sale of Ottawa Senators expected in the next few weeks, NHL Commissioner says
NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman says the process to sell the Ottawa Senators is moving forward as "quickly as possible," and the New York-based company overseeing the sale is advising to "expect a very good outcome in the next few weeks."
Fighting climate change or funding fossil fuels? America wants it 'both ways': U.S. ambassador
The U.S. Ambassador to Canada says America 'absolutely wants to have it both ways' when it comes to fighting climate change while pursuing fossil fuel projects.
More than 5,000 new species discovered at future deep-sea mining site in Pacific Ocean
More than 5,000 new species have been discovered at an expansive future deep-sea mining site in the Pacific Ocean.