Reduced-Speed Neighbourhood Pilot
Let’s find out what happens when Winnipeg’s residential neighbourhoods have lower speeds.
We want to hear what you think about speed limits in residential areas and how a widespread change could impact your life.
In March 2023, we reduced speeds in four neighbourhoods to learn how such a change could impact peoples’ experiences with safety and traffic over a period of one year. The speed limit on local and collector streets in these neighbourhoods changed from 50 km/h to either 30 or 40 km/h.
The speed limit was reduced to 30 km/h in:
The speed limit was reduced to 40 km/h in:
We want to know if changing the speed limit changes how fast vehicles actually travel. We also want to know if lowering the speed limit within a residential area affects neighbourhood livability. Livability looks at how a neighbourhood's physical environment contributes to quality of life. Physical environment includes things like geographic layout, road conditions, speeds, and available amenities.
What we know
We know two things going into the pilot: the average speed at which Winnipeggers currently drive, and the potential effects of lower posted speed limits.
Existing conditions
The first step in preparing this pilot was to determine how fast Winnipeggers currently drive.
We looked at 100 local traffic studies (conducted between October 2020 and June 2022) on both collector roads and local roads.
- Collector roads are the higher-traffic streets that lead into and out of communities. They are often the “hub” of the community where shops and other community destinations are located, usually serve as bus routes, and are also the roads big trucks would use when travelling into a neighbourhood to make deliveries.
- Local roads are shorter, narrower streets used primarily for accessing properties (as opposed to being used as a thoroughfare). In Winnipeg, we also call these residential streets.
- There is another kind of street called a regional road. These are the major routes that connect communities and serve as city’s main thoroughfares. Regional roads are not being looked at as part of the reduced-speed pilot.
The speed limit at all locations we looked at is 50 km/h, though some streets also had segments of reduced-speed school zones where the limit is 30 km/h.
We found:
- Drivers already travel slower than the posted speed limit on both types of roads
- Drivers travel faster on collector roads (average speed 43 km/h) than local roads (average speed 36 km/h)
- When a reduced-speed school zone is in effect, drivers travel at an average of 32 km/h
Here is a snapshot to highlight the main differences between collector and local roads:
Based on published data, engineering knowledge, and results from other cities, we know lowering posted speed limits has the potential to affect five primary things:
- Travel speed
- Road safety
- Walking and cycling
- Travel time
- Public perception of safety, comfort, and livability
The graphic below is based on 42 publications that investigated the impacts of reducing the posted speed limit in a residential area:
| As shown in the graphic above, travelling at reduced speeds through residential areas has little impact on the time it takes to get from starting point to destination. On average, drivers see their total travel time increase by 60 seconds or less when traveling at 40 km/h for a portion of their trip. |
We know your opinion of reduced speed limits in residential areas has a lot to do with how you anticipate the change would affect your daily trips. That’s why we’ve developed a travel time estimator tool.
Just enter a start point and end point (addresses must be within City limits) and the tool will highlight the change in travel time based on different speed limit scenarios.
See how your trip would change.
Lessons learned
Numerous cities across Canada have recently implemented lowered speed limits.
- Cities that lowered speed limits within residential areas city-wide to 40 km/h include:
- Toronto lowered speed limits to 30 km/h on local streets and 40 km/h on collector streets
- Surrey piloted both 30 km/h and 40 km/h in neighbourhoods and Vancouver also piloted lower speeds of 30 km/h on local streets
Case studies
| City of Calgary | ||
|---|---|---|
In 2021, Calgary reduced the posted speed limit to 40 km/h on a most residential streets, excluding the Downtown area and industrial areas. Results showed a modest reduction in travel speeds and a slight impact on driver behaviour. While public opinion of reduced speeds was mixed prior to implementation, post-pilot evaluation shows opinions are now primarily positive. | Type of speed reduction: City-wide reduced residential area speed limit | |
| Evaluation metrics: Vehicle speeds, resident input | ||
| Implementation: June, 2021 | ||
Evaluation results:
| ||
| City of Montreal | ||
|---|---|---|
Montreal reduced its default speed limit on residential streets and collector streets to 40 km/h in 2009. The posted speed limit was also lowered in high-traffic, high-collision areas Downtown on street types other than collector or local. Speeds remained at 50 km/h on arterial roads, collectors with two or more approach lanes in each direction, industrial zones, and collectors with transit priority measures. Areas with playgrounds, school zones, and future green neighbourhoods were reduced further to 30 km/h. Results showed a modest reduction in travel speeds. An awareness campaign introduced the change to residents, but no surveys were done prior to or after implementation. That said, anecdotal public response from each burrow was positive. | Type of speed reduction: Reduced default city-wide residential area speed limit | |
| Evaluation metrics: Vehicle speeds, resident input | ||
| Implementation: 2009 | ||
Evaluation results:
| ||
How can we help?
If you have questions or require alternate formats, interpretation or any additional accommodations to participate, please visit engage.winnipeg.ca/help or contact:
 | reducedspeedneighbourhoods@winnipeg.ca |
 | 204-986-4243 |
Visit winnipeg.ca/publicengagement to learn about some of the ways we can accommodate those who may need alternative access to engagement or information.
FAQ
Who's listening
Engagement Type
 | Involve Ensure your input is heard to help us define early options. |