The staff entrance to Whitehorse city hall. Photo Courtesy of Macklen Linke/CKRW.
Whitehorse, YT – Speed limits on most residential streets in Whitehorse will drop to 40 kilometres an hour under new changes to the traffic bylaw passed unanimously by city council Monday night.
The bylaw passed first and second reading and will come into effect after its third reading.
The changes set the 40-kilometre-an-hour limit as default unless otherwise posted. The reduction applies to residential streets across more than 20 neighborhoods including Porter Creek, Riverdale, Whistle Bend, Copper Ridge, Mary Lake, Crestview and Hillcrest.
Some areas, including parts of Takhini North, McIntyre and Valleyview will remain at 30 kilometres an hour. Major roadways such as Hamilton Boulevard and Mountainview Drive will retain their higher posted limits.
At Monday night’s council meeting, Whitehorse Deputy Mayor Anne Middler, says the changes are about protecting pedestrians and road users.
“Driving slower will make little difference in your trip time, and it allows you to take in more of the surroundings, be more careful and have more reaction time if a dog or a kid chasing a ball runs in the street in front of you,” said Middler.
Previous speed reductions on Second Avenue and other downtown streets have been generally well received according to city staff.
