Jason Stockfish, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Jasper is one step closer to reducing its speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h throughout town amid questions about how this would affect driver exams.
During the committee of the whole meeting on March 8, the first in-person meeting since the pandemic began, council members moved that committee recommend to council to amend the Traffic Bylaw.
“Changing the speed limit to 30 km/h across town is the best option from public and pedestrian safety, fiscal, operational and visitor experience standpoints,” administration stated in the request for decision.
In the strategies section of the municipality’s Transportation Master Plan, further justification was provided.
“Studies have shown that reducing operating speeds from 50 km/h to 30 km/h can have a significant impact on the severity of collisions with vulnerable road users (pedestrians and cyclists).”
One study found that the risk of a pedestrian being killed was 80 per cent at 50 km/h versus 10 per cent at 30 km/h, according to administration.
As the committee had voiced prior support for the move to 30 km/h, the proceedings moved forward quickly.
Coun. Ralph Melnyk, however, asked if the reduction in speed limit may have future implications for anyone looking to get a basic Class 5 driver’s licence in Jasper if council passes the amended bylaw.
“There is a need for clarity from the… province regarding driver training,” Melnyk said.
“If we go ahead with this and recommend passing this particular bylaw change, (do we have any) indication as to how long it’ll be before we hear back or know whether we will be putting in jeopardy driver training (in Jasper)?”
To obtain a basic Class 5 licence in Alberta, the driver must spend some time driving in a 50 km/h zone.
With the proposed 50 km/h zones remaining at each end of Connaught Drive and the 70 km/h bypass immediately adjacent to Jasper, it is unclear whether the criteria for evaluations will continue to be met or not.
The test must also be completed in 30 minutes, and there are several other tasks the driver must perform in that allotted timeframe, such as parking and dealing with various signage.
“If the change was to go forward, we would notify our contacts at the Department of Transportation and leave it in their hands,” said Christine Nadon, director of Legislative and Protective Services.
Nadon added that it was proving difficult to get information on this subject from the province and have an inspector visit Jasper to assess the situation.
Rob Williams, press secretary for Alberta Transportation, explained in an email that the provincial government “is happy to help the Town of Jasper with its speed limit review, to ensure road testing is not negatively impacted.”
“No decision on changes to those tests has been made,” Williams added.
If council takes its cue from committee and votes to pass the amended bylaw, it would be a vote consistent with the thinking in the Transportation Master Plan.
“Jasper is in a unique position given its compact size, isolated location and predominantly local road network. Due to these factors, travel distances within town are typically short and motorists are more likely to adhere to reduced speed limits,” the master plan stated.
“The need to reduce speeds within residential areas is also easily understood by motorists and justifies the need for slower speeds.”
Council will make a final decision at a future meeting.
