Prince Albert city council has directed administration to prepare a report on lowering the speed limit along a well-used section of 13th Street East, citing safety concerns and the changing role of the corridor within the city.
The notice of motion, brought forward by Coun. Tony Head, calls for a review of reducing the speed limit from 50 kilometers per hour to 40 kilometres per hour on 13th Street East between 1st Avenue and 6th Avenue. Council voted to request the report, which will return at a future meeting with analysis and options.
Head said the request was driven by concerns raised by residents who live along the street and have contacted him about vehicle speeds, particularly during winter months.
“I have heard from people who live in the area, and there have been collisions and close calls, ” Head told the council. “The question is whether the current speed still makes sense for how this street is being used today.”
Several councillors said the corridor has evolved over time and now serves a mix of residential areas and major commercial destinations. The stretch connects neighbourhoods with high traffic shopping areas, including the Gateway Mall and the Walmart Supercentre, and is frequently used by pedestrians, cyclists, and drivers accessing nearby businesses.
Coun. Blake Edwards questioned why the street remains set at 50 kilometres per hour, noting that many similar streets across the city have lower limits.
“I’m very curious to see why this road has ever been 50 kilometers per hour. I don’t understand it. It’s a residential area, lots of accidents,” Edwards said. “So I’ll be interested to see the report, but certainly will support one day going to 40 kilometers an hour.”
Coun. Bryce Laewetz focused on the scope of the proposed report, asking whether it would examine physical and engineering measures in addition to a potential speed limit change. He said he wanted to ensure the council is presented with a range of options rather than a single recommendation.
“Would this report include engineering controls as well as an administrative control, like a speed change?” Laewetz asked. “I know speed bumps are not effective on a 50 kilometre road, but would this report include other options as well?”
Mayor Bill Powalinsky raised questions about how a potential speed reduction on 13th Street East could affect similar roads elsewhere in the city. He said council should consider how the request compares with other through streets that have residential development on one or both sides, such as Fourth Street, before making a decision.
Administration will now gather data for the report, which may include collision history, traffic volumes, roadway design, and comparisions with similar streets elsewhere in Prince Albert. No timeline was set for when the report will be brought back to council.
No immediate changes to the speed limit were made as part of the motion. Any adjustment would require further council approval after the report is reviewed.
For now, council’s decision signals a willingness to reassess how a key east side corridor is managed, as traffic patterns and community expectations continue to shift.
arjun.pillai@paherald.sk.ca
