Speed Limit Reduction FAQ

Edmonton is planning for its future – to grow into a healthy city of 2 million people and a neighbourly city with community and personal wellness that embodies and promotes equity for all Edmontonians. Transformational change is needed to bring this vision to life. Safe Mobility is at the heart of supporting a healthy city, livable urban places, and a prosperous regional economy. As part of this, the City is lowering speed limits in residential neighbourhoods and areas with high numbers of pedestrians, creating safe, livable streets for everyone.

Changes to Speed Limits

Why was the default speed limit reduced from 50 km/h to 40 km/h?

Reducing residential speeds make our streets calmer, quieter, and safer for people walking, biking, driving and enjoying their neighbourhood.

Slowing down gives us more time to react to the unexpected, reduces unnecessary tragedies on our roads, and has very little impact on travel times, so the citywide default speed limit of 40 km/h helps us reach our goal of Vision Zero; zero traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries in Edmonton by 2032.

Cities across Canada are taking similar measures to increase safety and livability in their communities. This includes the City of St. Albert and the City of Calgary.

Edmonton’s approach to speed management is guided by the Safe Mobility Strategy 2021-2025. The strategy is a key component of the City's strategic goals for the next 10 years and supports ConnectEdmonton in creating a safe, healthy, urban and climate resilient city for all residents.

When did the 40 km/h speed limit change come into effect?

As of August 6, 2021, the default speed limit changed to 40 km/h on most residential and downtown streets. The primary focus for the month of August was education to ensure that Edmontonians were aware of the change.

How much time is this going to add to my drive?

We know your time is important. Try the Estimated Time of Arrival tool to see how your trip time may change. Most people who have used it already found their travel time from their home to their destination did not significantly increase because this does not impact most major roads around the city.

How will I know what the speed limit is?

The new default (unposted) speed limit in Edmonton is now 40 km/h. That means that if you don’t see a speed limit sign, please adjust your speed to 40 km/h.

The City has taken an approach to signage that reduces the number of signs on our streets wherever possible. Edmontonians can expect to see a sign at locations where there is a change in the speed limit, such as at playground zones, or where a speed limit increases or decreases. Signage will also be provided at entry locations into the City indicating the default speed limit of 40 km/h.

You can also find out which roads will have their speed limit reduced by visiting the Speed Limit Map.

Why is reducing the default speed limit a priority?

Safety is the priority. Speed limits are an important aspect of traffic safety because speed is a factor in the frequency and outcome of every collision. Slowing down while driving gives you more time to react to the unexpected and helps you avoid crashes.

Reducing speeds can make our streets calmer, quieter, and safer for people walking, biking, driving and enjoying their neighbourhood. This creates a more comfortable environment for active modes of transportation, builds community trust and creates livable neighbourhoods.

Speed Increases Braking Distance

How are we aligning with what other major cities in Canada (Calgary/Vancouver/Toronto/Montreal) are doing in regards to speed limits?

Many municipalities throughout Canada, the United States and the world are considering, or have implemented, reduced speed limits. This includes the City of St. Albert and the City of Calgary. The City reviewed best practices, studies and research to develop our implementation plans.

What public engagement has been done on this?

Administration completed a review of integrated public engagement activities and results undertaken since 2018 that captured citizen input into traffic safety initiatives and provided insights into community priorities for renewal projects.

Public were invited to speak to this program twice before the City Council, first in February 2020 and then on November 4, 2020. Improving safety, mobility and accessibility are recurring themes that have emerged from these various forms of public engagement .

In September 2020, the City gathered public feedback for the Safe Mobility Strategy 2021-2025. Information shared by citizens, combined with crash and enforcement data over the past five years, provided the City with a clearer picture to prioritize traffic safety measures. These measures will be localized to communities that have higher rates of collisions than other parts of the city, and may be resolved through a combination of engineering, public engagement, education, and enforcement.

Signage

What is our approach to signage?

Prior to 2024, the City’s approach to speed limit signage was to sign the speed limit only where it wasn’t the default speed of 40 km/h, as shown on this map , in order to reduce the number of road signs on our streets wherever possible. The City is revisiting this approach in 2024, and installing Max 40 km/h signs in the areas where it is most needed.

Why are additional 40 km/h speed limit signs being installed in certain areas?

40 km/h speed limit signage is being installed on wide neighbourhood roads that connect to main thoroughfares, also known as arterial roads, to increase speed limit awareness and compliance among drivers. These roads were identified as low compliance areas when the City completed speed studies as part of the one year evaluation of the default speed limit reduction.

40 km/h signage is being installed in neighbourhoods throughout the city. Signage can be expected to be installed throughout 2024 and 2025.

Does signage make a difference in compliance?

While road design typically has the largest impact on speed, signage can help remind drivers of the speed limit and is a quick win in the short term. Signage is one of the many tools we use to encourage safer speeds.

Types of Roads

Any changes for arterial roads?

Most arterial roads did not receive reduced speed limits, but Council has directed reducing the speed from 50 km/h to 40 km/h for the following Main Streets and high pedestrian locations:

Downtown
Whyte Avenue
109 Street to 99 Street
Jasper Avenue
124 Street to 97 Street
Chinatown
Roadways between 97 Street to 101 Street and 103A Avenue to 108A Avenue
North/south streets between 105 Avenue & 106 Avenue from 101 Street to 116 Street but not including 101 Street, 109 Street or 116 Street
South of Whyte Avenue
East/west avenue between Gateway Blvd and Calgary Trail
Saskatchewan Drive
110 Street to Emily Murphy Park Road
Fortway Drive
River Valley Road to 107 Street

The new Speed Limit Map shows which residential, downtown, main streets, and high pedestrian areas have had their speed limit reduced.

Now that the speed limit is reduced to 40 km/h, will playground zones go away?

No, Edmonton will still have playground zones to protect our most vulnerable road users. The speed limit at these locations will remain at 30 km/h from 7:30am to 9pm. Outside of these hours, the speed limit will be 40 km/h unless otherwise posted.

Are there roads in residential areas that should stay at 50 km/h?

The City evaluates appropriate speeds for roadways by considering the following factors: existing safety considerations, the presence of mixed transportation modes, adjacent land use, the presence of speed reduction zones, traffic volume and existing speed limit, the design intent and the primary use of the road.

As part of this project, the City completed a systematic road network review to identify where reduced speed limits could increase safety and livability in Edmonton’s neighbourhoods. Roadways that would not support a lowered speed limit were identified and are exempt under the amended speed zone bylaw. They have signs indicating the speed limit will remain at 50 km/h.

For more information regarding the speed limit on specific roads, please visit the Speed Limit Map.

Will speed limits in industrial and commercial areas change?

Most industrial and commercial area speed limits did not change. When reviewing the road network, the City used a refreshed approach to ensure that the speed limit makes sense and ensures consistency. This means that there are some non-residential roads that were included in the speed limit reduction to 40 km/h. All roads were reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

The new Speed Limit Map shows which roads will be impacted by the speed limit reduction.

Why aren’t we increasing the speed limit on the Yellowhead/Anthony Henday/Whitemud?

Anthony Henday is under Provincial jurisdiction; therefore, the City does not have control over its speed limit. Arterial roadways, including Yellowhead Trail and Whitemud Drive, all have maximum speed limits based upon the engineered design of the roadway such as widths, curves, sightlines and type and spacing of intersections or interchanges. The current speed limits on these roads have been determined as the appropriate speed we should travel for safety.

The Yellowhead Trail Freeway Conversion project includes changing the design for portions of the road. After completion, the redesign will safely allow an increase from the current speed of 70 km/h to 80 km/h.

Enforcement

Is automated traffic enforcement a cash-grab for the City?

Safety is the priority. Edmonton was the first city in Canada to commit to Vision Zero, the goal to eliminate fatalities and serious injuries on Edmonton streets by 2032. Eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Edmonton streets is essential to a healthy, vibrant city for all residents.

Automated enforcement is an important tool to remind drivers to slow down and drive safely, and a critical component of Edmonton’s Safe Mobility Strategy to reach Vision Zero. Funds generated by automated enforcement are part of the Traffic Safety Automated Enforcement Reserve and do not go into general City revenues. Through the reserve, funds are reinvested back into traffic safety programs. Each year, the Edmonton Police Service also receives a portion of the funds generated from automated enforcement. Since adopting Vision Zero in 2015, fatalities on our streets have decreased by 50% and pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries have decreased by 27%.

Due to the Provincial Government's moratorium on new automated enforcement locations, no new automated enforcement locations are being considered at this time.

Vision Zero

What is Vision Zero?

Our streets are for everyone, whether you are walking, rolling, cycling, driving or taking transit. Vision Zero seeks to eliminate all traffic fatalities and severe injuries, while increasing safe, healthy, equitable mobility for all. Eliminating traffic-related fatalities and serious injuries on Edmonton's streets is essential to a healthy, vibrant city for all residents.

The Safe Mobility Strategy 2021-2025 is our plan to achieve Vision Zero: Zero traffic-related serious injuries and fatalities through safer, more livable streets for all by 2032. Since Vision Zero was adopted in 2015, traffic-related fatalities have decreased by 50%, serious injuries have decreased by 32% and pedestrian fatalities and serious injuries have decreased by 27%.

Vision Zero is an international traffic safety initiative that is reinventing traditional approaches to traffic safety based on the philosophy that no one should be killed or seriously injured in the road transportation system. It is a fundamentally different way to approach traffic safety. Traffic-related deaths and serious injuries are not inevitable. They are preventable.

How does this align with the goals of Vision Zero?

This project is a key action in the Safe Mobility Strategy which will help us reach Vision Zero, the goal of zero fatalities and serious injuries, in Edmonton by 2032.

Slowing down increases the driver's field of vision and gives everyone more time to react. As a result, the new 40 km/h default speed limit helps reduce crashes on our streets.

Slower speeds also increase the survival rate of a crash and help reduce unnecessary tragedies on our roads.

How do lower speeds ensure safety?

The City engaged the Urban Traffic Safety Research Chair at the University of Alberta to review existing speed and collision data in order to model potential outcomes related to reducing residential speed limits. The analysis included estimating anticipated injury and fatal collision reductions and quantifying the value of cost avoidance related to decreasing collisions.

Safety is the priority. Speed limits are an important aspect of traffic safety because speed is a factor in the frequency and outcome of every collision. Slowing down while driving gives everyone more time to react to the unexpected and helps avoid collisions.

The risk of fatality for people struck by a vehicle while walking increases dramatically as driver speed increases.

Canada Post Service Disruption

Changes to Speed Limits

Signage

Types of Roads

Enforcement

Vision Zero

Estimated Time of Arrival Tool

Speed Limit Reduction

Vision Zero