October 27th, 2022

The City of Kitchener has begun reducing speed limits to 40 km/h in all residential neighbourhoods, including  near your school. 

Within these areas, school zones will be reduced to 30 km/h. 

Signs indicating the new 40 km/h limit are being installed at the entrances to each neighbourhood,  designating a network of local roadways within the entrance points that are all 40 km/h; an approach known  as “gateway” signage.  

All neighbourhoods within the city will be converted to the lower speed limit by end of 2023. Major city roads  and all regional roads will remain at their current speed limit. 

The City evaluated the effectiveness of lowering speed limits by running a pilot project in three residential  neighbourhoods. The pilot showed that reducing speed limits, coupled with education and engagement  efforts, reduced the average operating speeds by 3km/h (7%). Data collected in school zones showed a  4.8km/h (12%) reduction in average operating speeds.  

After speeding was identified as a top concern among residents, the City conducted a study of all collisions in  Kitchener over the past five years. Although 95 per cent of collisions were between vehicles, collisions  between a vehicle and a pedestrian or cyclist were the cause of 70 per cent of collision-related serious and fatal  injuries. In a collision between a vehicle travelling at 50 km/h and a pedestrian, the likelihood of survival of  the pedestrian is only 15%. This survival rate increases to 70% if the vehicle speed is reduced to 40 km/h. The  survival rate increases to 90% if the vehicle speed is reduced to 30 km/h. 

More information about this project can be found at kitchener.ca/speedlimit. 

For more information, please contact: 

Faranak Hosseini
Transportation Planning Project Manager
City of Kitchener
519.741.2200 x7665
Faranak.hosseini@kitchener.ca