Reducing speed limits provides many benefits, including reducing vehicle operating speeds, improving road safety, and improving neighborhood liveability. Reduced speed limits can have safety benefits in terms of fewer collisions and less severe collisions, enhancing comfort for those traveling on foot, bike, or with mobility aids.
Currently, the B.C. Motor Vehicle Act (MVA) sets the default speed limit of 50 km/h on municipal streets when signs have not posted a different speed limit. To ensure the equability of the program, our Council resolved to introduce the 40 km/hr speed reduction across all residential roads, excluding all roads classified as either arterial or collector, commercial-industrial/commercial, or local industrial/commercial or designated truck routes. Further, staff were directed to prioritize school-adjacent areas.
In September of 2024, the first implementation of 40km/h signs were installed on roads within a 500-metre radius around all School District No. 71 schools in the City.
The 40km/h speed limit is in effect 24 hours a day, seven days a week. On streets with lower posted speeds, such as 30 km/h school or playground zones, the lower posted speed is in effect during designated hours.
View the Interactive City Map or 40km/h Roadways Map [PDF – 3 MB] for current and future phased speed limit reductions.