Council considering 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. school speed zones

Times Reporter   

  

In September a request was made by council to look into the possibility of changing the school zone speed times. 

“In speaking with Staff Sgt. Reilly his suggestion if it were to come about would be change the times from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.,” said Teresa Fuchs, Strathmore Community Peace Officer.

She listed a few items that municipal enforcement suggested council keep in mind when considering changes. One of those things is that the times in place are peak period times for schools, they have been in the community for many years and most people abide by them. The current times are 8 a.m. – 9:30 a.m., 11:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Another is that Wheatland Trail and Brent Blvd are major commuting routes within the town, and approval for the school zone along Wheatland Trail would need approval from Alberta Transportation because it’s a provincial highway. 

The recommendation from enforcement is to leave the school zone times as they are now, said Fuchs.

“I think it would simplify enforcement with respect to 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday, (when) the school zones are in effect. I think it would be easier for motorists to start to comply with that 30km/hour in that area,” said Councillor Brad Walls. 

He said even he has to check the time to see what speed he should be going through the school zones during the day.  

Councillor Bob Sobol said he is hesitant to change it because a lot of people do recognize the zone times and worries about creating confusion and said he likes the times the way they are. 

“One of the reasons that I support this suggestion, proposal and I certainly have no problem with the 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. I think it’s okay, but I think the 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. is better. The reason I say that is as an educator for a very, very long time schools are changing and they are changing drastically and changing to the point that young students come to school very early in the morning to participate in on campus programs as early as seven in the morning,” said Councillor Denise Peterson 

“I know it will be an adjustment but in this community I think it’s a really rational decision to make and its one I don’t think should be instituted very quickly, it’s something that we could introduce over a period of time and help the community become accustomed to it.” 

Council directed administration to talk to the Alberta Transportation about changing the times on Wheatland Trail before moving ahead with changing the times. Councillor Rocky Blokland was opposed to the motion. He agrees that it would be better to have it a set, solid time going until 4:30 p.m. or 5:30 p.m. but not having it go until 9 p.m. 

“I’m all in favour of 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. or 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., but 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., that doesn’t make any sense,” said Blokland.