Lower speed limits are coming to more neighbourhoods throughout Halton Hills.
The municipality has selected four areas for speed limit reductions down to 40 km/h, which were endorsed by town council this week.
The new locations include:
- Mill Street East area in Acton
- Barraclough Boulevard area in Glen Williams
- Georgetown’s West Branch Drive area
- Upper Canada Court area in Norval.
Town staff has created maps showing which streets in each of these neighbourhoods will get the reductions.
The changes are expected to be fully in place by this summer.
“The one I would say I was happy to see added was the Mill Street East area in Acton,” said Councillor Clark Somerville during this week's council meeting.
Councillor Ron Norris shared in the enthusiasm for the initiative, noting he has received comments about speeding on Belmont Boulevard.
Using the Town's 40 km/h speed limit area policy, new neighbourhoods will be chosen every year until all eligible areas have had their limits reduced. This process is anticipated to take five to six years.
The policy prioritizes areas like: local roads that don't serve cut-through traffic, streets without sidewalks, and neighbourhoods in close proximity to schools and parks.
Director of Transportation Maureen Van Ravens noted that “signs alone will not change people’s behaviour.”
“You need to make sure that you have other things in place that are going to reduce the speed if you want it to be 40 kilometres per hour,” she added.
Intrusive traffic calming, like speed humps and bollards, are examples of other measures the Town can use.
The 40 km/h speed limit initiative started as a pilot project in 2021 after council gave direction to staff to find neighbourhoods that would be suitable for the reduction.
Last year, five locations were chosen: Cobblehill Road and Tanners Drive in Acton and Georgetown’s Barber Drive, Belmont and Delrex Boulevards.
