Council opts to reject lower speed limits on two roadways
In two confusing and narrow votes, Saskatoon city council rejected speed limits on two roadways over concern they were creating speed traps.
Council voted down Monday a reduced speed limit on a stretch of Millar Avenue and a speed limit of 80 km/h on College Drive that Ward 10 Coun. Zach Jeffries argued was too slow.
Jeffries, whose east-side ward is bordered by College Drive, said the stretch of College from 100 metres east of Preston Avenue to the city’s eastern edge was designed for a higher limit than 80 km/h.
Jeffries compared it to a stretch of road on the west side of the city — 22nd Street west of Diefenbaker Drive.
There, he said, “we are told consistently and uniformly that that speed limit is too low for that area and is essentially creating a spot where it is just ideal for our folks in blue to sit and catch people going faster than the artificially low speed limit.
“I don’t think that makes any sense.”
Both 22nd on the west side and College on the east side connect with highways outside city limits, Highway 14 and Highway 5, respectively.
Ward 5 Coun. Randy Donauer made a similar argument against a proposal to lower the speed limit on Millar Avenue from 60th Street to 71st Street from 60 km/h to 50 km/h. “I think we’re just going to be accused of making a speed trap again,” Donauer said.
The proposal to decrease the Millar Avenue speed limit failed on a tied 5-5 vote. Mayor Charlie Clark broke out laughing when he realized the speed limit change failed because Coun. Troy Davies had reentered council chamber and was sitting down as the vote was taken.
“Well done, Coun. Davies,” Clark laughed. City solicitor Patricia Warwick said Davies should have been allowed to vote, but Clark ruled the tied vote was valid. Davies said Tuesday he would have voted against the reduced speed, so it would have failed regardless.
Council then voted 6-5 against the proposed College Drive speed limit with the same five voting in favour as had done so for the previous speed limit.
Clark mistakenly counted the votes and announced the speed limit had passed before correcting himself. City hall administration said Tuesday more clarification was needed on what defeating the College Drive speed limit means.
Council unanimously approved nine other recommended speed limit changes.
“I think we need to stop putting traffic lights on highways and freeways within the city because they kill people,” Donauer added.