Neighbourhood Area Speed Limits
Slow down! The speed limit is being reduced to 40 km/h along most residential roads in neighbourhoods. New ‘AREA’ speed limit signs are being installed at the entrances to neighbourhoods. Directly in front of schools along local roads, speed limits are being further reduced to 30 km/h.
Background
Speed limits within Ontario municipalities are regulated by the Highway Traffic Act (HTA). Under the HTA, the statutory unsigned speed limit is 50 km/h within local municipalities and built-up areas.
While municipalities can designate speed limits along individual roads, a change to the HTA in 2017 allowed municipalities to establish an entire area at a speed limit of less than 50 km/h. This involves using specialized ‘gateway’ speed limit signage posted at the entry and exit points of a neighbourhood and eliminates the need to install signage along every roadway within the designated area.
Samples of what the neighbourhood area speed limit signs look like.
Why reduce the speed limit?
Safety is the priority. Driving at an appropriate speed reduces the likelihood of a collision and injury severity if a collision does occur. It also provides a safety buffer by giving additional time to stop in an emergency. At 30 km/h, the probability of a fatal outcome for a pedestrian involved in a collision is 10 per cent. At 50 km/h, it increases to 80 per cent.
Reducing speeds can make our streets safer and more enjoyable for people walking, biking, driving and enjoying their neighbourhood. Speeding in residential areas has been identified as a top area of concern for residents. In a recent survey, 83% of residents agreed or strongly agreed that speeding is a concern in their neighbourhood. Reflecting these concerns, the City receives a large volume of requests annually from residents concerned about speeding on residential roads. Many of these requests include requests for a reduced posted speed limit.
This approach is aligned with the Council’s Strategic Priorities, recommendations from the School Pedestrian Safety Working Group, and the City’s Road Safety Plan.
Timeline
Phase 1 (Spring 2024 to end of 2025)
Implementing area speed limits in approximately 25 neighbourhoods with schools, speed limit reductions to 30 km/h along school frontages on local roads within the neighbourhood areas, and pavement markings.
Phase 2 (2026)
Implementing area speed limits in 17 urban residential areas without schools. Driver feedback signs will be installed along key routes to schools as an additional traffic calming measure to support the lowered speed limits.
Phase 3 (2027 and beyond)
Involves a broader review of speed limits along the remainder of residential roads in urban and rural areas. This work may require additional study and resources given the unique context of these local roadways. 
This map shows the phased rollout of the 40 km/h speed limit zones.
This project is funded in part by the Government of Canada.
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New speed limits in residential areas aim to slow motorists and improve neighbourhood road safety
Kingston residents are reminded to slow down as signs posting reduced speed limits are installed in residential areas around the city.
The speed limit is being reduced to 40 km/h along most residential roads, indicated by new speed limit signs installed at neighbourhood entry and exit points. Directly in front of schools along local roads, the speed limit will be further reduced to 30 km/h.
Driving at an appropriate speed reduces the likelihood of a collision and injury severity if a collision does occur. The probability of a fatal outcome is significantly lower for a pedestrian involved in a collision with a vehicle travelling at a speed below 40 km/h compared to a vehicle travelling at 50 km/h, which is the current unsigned speed limit in Ontario.
Kingston uses a variety of municipally led programs to improve road safety, including Automated Speed Enforcement, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings, school area safety education, and cycling infrastructure projects. The new neighbourhood area speed limits are an additional tool to help reduce the number of collisions and serious injuries that can result from higher vehicle speeds.
“These new speed limits are about prioritizing safety for everyone and ensuring a consistent approach across urban neighbourhoods in the city,” says Matt Kussin, Transportation Policy and Programs Manager at the City of Kingston. “Slowing down increases your field of vision and gives you more time to react to your fellow road users.”
The first phase of this large multi-phase project involves implementing area speed limits in approximately 25 neighbourhoods with schools over the next year and a half. Installations are currently underway in three neighbourhoods – Woodhaven, Waterloo Village and Hillendale – with installations to follow in Rideau Heights, Marker’s Acres, Kingscourt, Henderson, Auden Park and Reddendale later this summer.
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Who's Listening
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Manager, Transportation Policy and Programs
