Following a lengthy debate on the Vision Zero framework, Regina City Council has postponed a decision on lowering the speed limit in the Cathedral neighbourhood to 30 kilometres per hour, 24 hours a day. The decision was deferred to May, allowing for further consideration and potential revisions to the proposed community safety zone.
The Vision Zero framework, unanimously endorsed by councillors, aims to reduce major injuries and deaths by addressing various road safety issues such as improving intersection safety, targeting aggressive driving, and reducing impaired and distracted driving.
However, councillors expressed differing views on the proposed safety zone in Cathedral, with some supporting a modified speed limit of 40 kilometres per hour or exemptions for certain streets. Despite various proposals, none received majority support from council.
The decision to table the debate was made a year and a day after a fatal collision involving a 16-year-old boy at the intersection of 13th Avenue and Garnet Street. This incident, along with another pedestrian fatality on 13th Avenue in 2023, influenced the recommendation to create the proposed safety zone in Cathedral.
From 2015 to 2019, Regina experienced a total of 26,254 collisions, resulting in 3,918 injuries, 134 major injuries, and 19 fatalities. These statistics underscore the need for comprehensive road safety measures as outlined in the Vision Zero project, which estimates funding requirements of $23.5 million from 2024 to 2028, including $7.5 million in new budget requests.
The postponed decision highlights the ongoing discussions and deliberations among Regina City Council regarding the implementation of the Vision Zero framework and the specific measures to be taken to enhance traffic safety in the Cathedral neighbourhood.
