Parts of Stratford are slowing down as a new pilot project drops speed limits in several residential neighbourhoods from 50 km/h to 40 km/h. The reduced speed zone covers northwest Stratford, in an area bordered by Huron Street, Mornington Street, McCarthy Road, and O’Loane Avenue. City officials said the shift follows traffic studies conducted over the last four years. “One of the more common frustrations or complaints that we get from residents is the elevated speeds they see throughout the city,” said Taylor Crinklaw, director of infrastructure services for the City of Stratford. Crinklaw said this specific residential area was targeted because of the amount of pedestrians who walk through the area and the presence of several amenities. “Our recreation and Agriplex centre are here, as well as some other community benefits, like our soccer pitch, our volleyball courts. There’s a whole bunch of pedestrian traffic generally happens,” Crinklaw said. “This area is a desired area to seek those reduced speeds.” Resident calls for more traffic calming measures Ingrid Bell has lived in the area for four decades and said speeding has been an ongoing concern. While she is pleased to see the issue being addressed, she worries it won’t be enough to stop the problem. “It looks like the signage is all that we’re going to get, yet again,” Bell said. “There’s too many streets having an issue with speed.” Bell feels the province should bring back automated speed enforcement cameras, which were previously removed. “If you hit people in the pocketbook, you get their attention. And if you hit it often enough, they will change their behavior,” Bell said. “And as it was shown once... where you move [speed cameras] from areas that previously had them, speeds increased.” In the absence of cameras, Bell favours physical traffic calming measures. “Physical deterrents, whether they be bump outs or whether they be speed bumps, would be the most immediate, most cost-effective one for right now,” she said. Looking ahead City staff say they are listening to community feedback and remain open to expanding traffic measures depending on how the pilot performs. “The intent of this pilot is it’s the beginning of the consideration to a much larger speed enforcement program if it’s successful,” Crinklaw said. Traffic data collection will continue in the pilot zone for the next year. Staff are expected to present the findings of the pilot project to Stratford city council in the fall of 2027. Last fall, city council put the brakes on a proposed city-wide residential speed reduction from 50 km/h to 40 km/h, citing budgetary pressures.
