Speed reduction proposed for River Road after child hit

Six months after a child was struck on River Road, the city’s public service has endorsed 30-kilometre per hour school zones along the route in south St. Vital.

A new report recommends city council make changes to the road that winds around St. Vital Park and connects St. Vital Road, Abinojii Mikanah and St. Mary’s Road.

The proposal would delay snow clearing while allowing for reduced speed limits outside both Minnetonka School and St. Amant School.

“It’s a trade-off, but I think it’s a worthwhile trade off,” Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) said.

Mayes said he’s received “a lot of calls” in recent years about the volume and speed of traffic on River Road — most recently, after a child was taken to the hospital following a weekday collision near St. Mary’s Road in the fall.

The Winnipeg Police Service reported a motorist struck a young pedestrian on River Road shortly before 5 p.m. on November 28. The child, who was in stable condition after the incident, was transported for treatment as a precaution, police said.

City records show roughly 5,000 vehicles travel the two-lane, 50 km/h roadway on a daily basis.

Transportation division manager David Patman made the case for switching its designation — from a regional street to a collector street — in a report prepared for the public works committee.

The current label, which makes it a top priority for plowing after winter storms, is meant for busy thoroughfares designed to move traffic.

River Road doesn’t fit that description, given it’s used for both moving traffic and accessing nearby residences, schools and parks, Patman said.

His written proposal indicates the changes could ensure 30 km/h zones are installed ahead of the first day of class in September at a cost of $1,000. “This would help improve safety for students and families,” the city engineer wrote.

The public works committee will discuss the recommendation on Wednesday.

“I’m all for it,” said Lisa Smith, site manager of Village Child Care’s location in Minnetonka School.

Smith cited the fact children are unpredictable and drivers are known to take River Road to get around construction and congestion.

Area school trustee Sandy Nemeth echoed her endorsement.

“This is a great move. The community will appreciate it and it will just provide safer passage, and that’s always a good thing,” said Nemeth, who chairs the Louis Riel School Division’s governing board.

City hall’s school board liaison recently asked trustees across Winnipeg for their input on 24/7 reduced speed school zones. There were mixed views expressed both within and across boards.

Nemeth said her board came to the conclusion the city should prioritize infrastructure upgrades to slow traffic.

“You can slow things down all year-round, but you’re always going to have people who miss the sign,” she said.

Following a news conference about recreational trail upgrades on Friday, Environment Minister Mike Moyes said he had “no problem” with lowering default speed limits on city streets.

Moyes, a former teacher, would not say whether he’s in favour of updating provincial legislation — which the city has requested — to make it far cheaper and simpler to drop Winnipeg’s default limit to 40 km/h from 50 km/h.

“If you’re even close to a school… I don’t care if the speed limit says that you can go 50 km/h, you should make sure that you’re going to keep kids safe,” he said.

When it comes to River Road, St. Amant president Ben Adaman said he isn’t convinced lowering the limit on a route that’s “very, very congested” will better protect kids who access facilities at 440 River Rd.

The kindergarten-to-Grade 12 school for children with developmental disabilities is set back from the road by about 700 metres and the posted speed limit in the front parking lot is 20 km/h.

Students are either dropped off by their caregivers or the bus, Adaman said.

“I don’t really see an upside,” he said, adding he suspects there will be backlash because reduced speed school zones can be “a bit of a pressure point.”

“Broad stakeholder engagement is always a good idea,” Adaman said, “and it’s never too late to have a conversation.”

Mayes, who isn’t on the public works committee, said he plans to advocate for a one-month delay to allow for community consultation on the proposed change.

maggie.macintosh@freepress.mb.ca