Changing highway speed limit

[bagofpucks]

Likely not a popular thread given the discussion going on in the “all roads to 30 km/h” thread, but I figured folks in here probably know the answer and I’m having issues finding what I need on the Alberta DOT website.

Long story short, I live in a community just off a highway. Many residents have raised concerns regarding two intersections that our community uses for access. Currently, the speed limit is set to 100 km/h, but I’m hoping to start the process to see if it could be reduced before these intersections.

Anyone have experience with this? I believe it is a provincial highway, so where is the best place to start?

[The Yen Man]

I'm ok with reducing highway speeds coming up to important intersections. At the same time, I wish they'd increase the rest of highway speeds to 120km/h.

[Northendzone]

i would be a pain if you adjusted speeds on highway 2 or trans-canada at level road intersections

[Locke]

Originally Posted by bagofpucks

Likely not a popular thread given the discussion going on in the “all roads to 30 km/h” thread, but I figured folks in here probably know the answer and I’m having issues finding what I need on the Alberta DOT website.

Long story short, I live in a community just off a highway. Many residents have raised concerns regarding two intersections that our community uses for access. Currently, the speed limit is set to 100 km/h, but I’m hoping to start the process to see if it could be reduced before these intersections.

Anyone have experience with this? I believe it is a provincial highway, so where is the best place to start?

First of all you start by going to RONA. You acquire a step-ladder, some spray-paint and then apply. You can have whatever speed limit you want if you're creative enough.

[jmac98]

https://www.alberta.ca/transportation.aspx

Likely these folks.

Best of luck!

[bagofpucks]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i would be a pain if you adjusted speeds on highway 2 or trans-canada at level road intersections

Yah, that’s the problem. From one way there is a very large hill and from the other way there is quite a curve. I’ve driven in the area for almost 20 years and have only recently noticed an increase in “near miss” incidents, so not sure what’s changed exactly. Could be more traffic for sure. The other folks bringing it up are all long time residents as well.

[greyshep]

How they set speed limits on roads in this province in the first place is a complete mystery to me. I live just outside the city and there is three very similar secondary roads we use. One has a 100kph speed limit, one is 90kph and the other is limited to 80kph. Literally no difference to these roads. Flat roads with relatively small shoulders and houses/acreage entrances interspersed on either side, funny enough the one with the 100kph limit is the most curvy of the bunch. Its like they threw the 3 limits in a hat and drew each one out with a blindfold.

Driving on them, I find 90kph would be the best bet for all of them.

[Robo]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I'm ok with reducing highway speeds coming up to important intersections. At the same time, I wish they'd increase the rest of highway speeds to 120km/h.

I say this everytime we are driving from Edmonton to Calgary 110km/h just seems painfully slow with the way vehicles are now. I usually go around 130 but I would rather do it without being paranoid about getting a ticket

[Resolute 14]

Originally Posted by Northendzone

i would be a pain if you adjusted speeds on highway 2 or trans-canada at level road intersections

They have on the TCH at the back entrance into Chestermere. It took the deaths of a number of people for it to happen though.

OP - your best bet is to petition both your MLA and Alberta Transportation. Getting your neighbours together and setting up a petition (a real one, not change.org) would probably help. As would getting together and presenting any stats you can - such as how many accidents, injuries, deaths.

[btimbit]

What about the intersections makes you think lowering the speed limit will help?

We were having issues with some rural Intersections on highway 2 south of Calgary. The problems were vehicles turning into the highway but not going fast enough causing other vehicles to have to slam on their brakes or change lanes. We found lengthening the merge lanes worked wonders.

Lowering limits should be your last resort, since it can make things trickier since most vehicles will just keep going the old speed.

[Lubicon]

Originally Posted by btimbit

What about the intersections makes you think lowering the speed limit will help?

We were having issues with some rural Intersections on highway 2 south of Calgary. The problems were vehicles turning into the highway but not going fast enough causing other vehicles to have to slam on their brakes or change lanes. We found lengthening the merge lanes worked wonders

This. Design changes such as acceleration/deceleration lanes, realigning the approaches, closing off traffic movements in certain directions etc. can have a significant affect as well.

[bagofpucks]

Originally Posted by btimbit

What about the intersections makes you think lowering the speed limit will help?

We were having issues with some rural Intersections on highway 2 south of Calgary. The problems were vehicles turning into the highway but not going fast enough causing other vehicles to have to slam on their brakes or change lanes. We found lengthening the merge lanes worked wonders.

Lowering limits should be your last resort, since it can make things trickier since most vehicles will just keep going the old speed.

Yes, fair point. My hope is lowering the speed limit would just be a short term solution and long term some sort of “road engineering” fix would be the long term. Unfortunately, with how the road is right now there is no easy fix with lanes etc.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by btimbit

What about the intersections makes you think lowering the speed limit will help?

We were having issues with some rural Intersections on highway 2 south of Calgary. The problems were vehicles turning into the highway but not going fast enough causing other vehicles to have to slam on their brakes or change lanes. We found lengthening the merge lanes worked wonders.

Lowering limits should be your last resort, since it can make things trickier since most vehicles will just keep going the old speed.

Problem is extending lanes and changing layouts for more efficient use that saves lives, costs money, while swapping out a 100km sign for an 80km one creates millions in speeding tickets. So....

[TorqueDog]

Originally Posted by The Yen Man

I'm ok with reducing highway speeds coming up to important intersections.

All I can think of when I see the 'Important Intersection' sign is "Pfft, I don't give two f--ks about that intersection, the 'Important' part is clearly subjective."

[btimbit]

Originally Posted by TorqueDog

All I can think of when I see the 'Important Intersection' sign is "Pfft, I don't give two f--ks about that intersection, the 'Important' part is clearly subjective."

"Can't be that important, I never tun there"

[TorqueDog]

Exactly!