Saanich council is set to give a final vote on Monday (June 17) on a plan to lower speed limits in many of the district's residential neighbourhoods starting as soon as this week.
Councillors were unanimous in their support of the first three readings of the bylaw changes on June 10, and just need to give final approval on Monday evening.
"We're all very passionate about protecting people and vulnerable road users on our streets," Coun. Teale Phelps Bondaroff said at the June 10 council meeting.
Under this new bylaw amendment, many smaller residential streets will have speed limits drop down to 30 km/h, while some through streets will drop to 40.
Interurban roads got special mention at the June 10 council meeting as the speed limit is set to drop to 40 on that road, a place where the change might prompt criticism from drivers, and might mean more speeding tickets are handed out.
"This is the street I think we may get some non-compliance or potentially some feedback on," Coun. Colin Plant said at the June 10 meeting.
Plant prompted Harley Machielse, the district's engineering director, to explain why.
"There has been some serious accidents along Interurban at the pedestrian crossings and that's an element that plays into our evaluation here," Machielse responded. "We've determined that 40 km/h is an appropriate speed at this location.
Plant responded with approval.
"I'd rather be on a council that is on the side of caution."
