County councillors were unanimous in their agreement to reduce the speed limit from 80 to 60km/hour within a quarter mile of Ponsonby Public School.
The decision supported a recommendation from the county’s roads committee after it received a petition this month from nearly four dozen area residents asking for more safety measures for the school area.
School council chairman Lisa Rayner wrote to the committee that currently people must park on County Road 7 when there is high attendance at school events.
She told the committee the speed limit is 80, the road is only two lanes, and there is inadequate lighting.
Rayner also cited a tragedy from Dec. 18 when a woman, the grandmother of a student, was struck and killed after attending a school function.
Besides a reduction in the speed limit, Rayner said parents wanted a sign similar to the one at Salem Public School which, when flashing, would require a further speed reduction to 40km/hour. She said that would allow the school to reduce the speed limit for safety when events are being held that caused people to park on the road.
She also asked for more streetlighting, to ensure that drivers can see there are cars parked along the road, and that special events are taking place.
Councillor Joanne Ross-Zuj congratulated the committee on its recommendation to cut the speed limit. She wondered if the limits can be in place by September, when school restarts.
Ross-Zuj said if the limit is cut before then, drivers will have a chance to get used to it.
Roads committee chairman Carl Hall said he is not sure about lights, but the county can get the speed limit changed.
Ross-Zuj warned, “It [a new speed limit] will take some getting used to.”
