This week’s batch of calls for public engagement includes surveys about road safety in three Edmonton neighbourhoods, a draft design of a playground in Hawks Ridge, and a survey about Leduc’s proposed annexation of land from Leduc County, among other matters.
The City of Edmonton is collecting feedback about proposed safety improvements to a road that runs through the southern neighbourhoods of Ermineskin and Keheewin, as well as on a section of road in Prince Rupert.
The city implemented a default speed limit of 40 km/h in 2021 in an effort to improve traffic safety. While the city uses Vision Zero Street Labs to improve safety across an entire residential neighbourhood, the Towards 40 program targets roads with low speed compliance and “exception roads” that did not transition to a 40 km/h speed limit in 2021. The city said exception roads will be converted to 40 km/h once they are permanently reconstructed.
Speed limit compliance is as low as 13% in some areas of Ermineskin and Keheewin, the city said. It has proposed curb extensions and centre medians to narrow the road, thus slowing traffic and providing shorter crossing distances for pedestrians.
One section of road in Prince Rupert — 114 Avenue from 119 Street to Tower Road — is a low-compliance road, with about 68% of drivers obeying the speed limit, the city said. There were 19 crashes on the 600-metre section of road between 2020 and 2024, four of which resulted in minor injuries. Three crashes involved hitting parked cars. Residents were asked to place pins on a map identifying traffic safety issues in the neighbourhood, and many said 114 Avenue was an area of concern.
Administration suggests adding speed tables, which are longer and flatter than speed bumps and allow drivers to pass at a steadier speed. At the intersection with Tower Road, the options include extending the sidewalk and two configurations with a centre median.
Residents are invited to give feedback on the draft designs until July 5. The feedback will be used to advise the final design.