Bylaw to harmonize school, playground zones

By Mickey Dumont Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

A harmonized speed limit in both school and playground zones could soon be in effect year-round at all times if Claresholm town council passes an amendment to its traffic and highways bylaw.
Council approved the bylaw amendment’s first reading at its April 14 meeting. Positive votes to three readings are required to amend the traffic bylaw to incorporate a change to playground and school zones being 24/7 at reduced speeds.
“The town was contacted by RCMP, who have recently been conducting speed radar in the playground and school zones in Claresholm,” Town Chief Administrator Officer Abe Tinney said in introducing the bylaw amendment request.
“They have noticed that the signs around the elementary school indicate a playground zone with no posted time. The default time for playground zones is 8:30 a.m. to one hour after sunset which is the provincial regulation unless otherwise noted within the town’s bylaw. School drop-off begins around 7:30 a.m. making the 30 km/h difficult to enforce prior to 8:30 a.m.”
“Changing the time frame would allow enforcement before 8:30 a.m. when children are actually heading to school,” Tinney added.
Provincial school zone regulations, when 30 kilometres per hour is in effect, are from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.; 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Provincial playground zone regulations reduce driving speed to 30 kilometres per hour starting at 8:30 to one hour after sunset.
“School zones end at 4:30 p.m. and with the playgrounds and sports field being used later in the evenings and all summer as well, having the areas designated as playground zones versus school zones allows for slower speeds in those areas,” Tinney added. “Administration has spoken and received feedback from the schools in which they would like to see more enforcement and slower speeds especially during drop off and pick up times. Education will be a key component of enforcement.”
Administration’s research found Lethbridge has harmonized its school and playground zones effective from 7:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. High River has harmonized its school and playground zones to 30 kilometres per hour year-round.
Okotoks has not harmonized its playground and school zones. Instead, school zones there are 30 kilometres per hour from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. while the towns of Fort Macleod and Pincher Creek follow provincial regulations.
The town councillors agreed harmonizing will give a degree of consistency.
Coun. Mike Cutler is in favour of harmonizing the two zones.
“So my big thing is there’s school zones, playground zones or whatever and because of children in parks, I’m in favour of 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It’s less confusing having one speed 24 hours.”
“It just makes sense,” Mayor Brad Schlossberger added. “The kids are there, even after hours.”
Cutler made the motion to give the bylaw amendment first reading to harmonize playground and school zones which was passed unanimously.