By Sheldon Spackman

changes on the way

Sylvan Lake eyeing school/playground zone changes under new Traffic Bylaw

Jul 10, 2019 | 12:14 PM

The Town of Sylvan Lake is looking at following Red Deer’s lead with its new Traffic Bylaw.

On Monday, council granted first reading to newly-proposed bylaw that would see all existing school zones and hybrid zones, where playground structures exist, changed to playground zones.

Town officials say the new bylaw would also standardize school and playground zone hours in Sylvan Lake, but retain all school zones located along 50 Street.

School and playground zones and the hours they are in effect were discussed in detail by council on Feb. 11. Following the discussion, council directed administration to propose amendments to the Traffic Bylaw and refer the matter to a public hearing, which has now been set for July 22 at 6:00 p.m. in council chambers.

Playground zone hours being proposed are from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. daily, while school zone hours would run from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on school days. The maximum speed limit for school zones or playground zones in Sylvan Lake would be 30 km/hr during the hours they are in effect.

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Town officials say the intent of the proposed bylaw is to provide motorists and pedestrians with consistent and predictable hours that these zones are in effect, resulting in less confusion and thereby improving the safety of pedestrians.

In addition, officials say using the ‘Red Deer model’ will help develop a geographical familiarity with the rules in school and playground zones on a regional basis.

Of the eight school/hybrid zones in Sylvan Lake, Town officials say six would be changed to playground zones, while two would remain unchanged as school zones.

Proposed changes from hybrid/school zones to playground zone locations include Our Lady of the Rosary, Steffie Woima, C.P. Blakely and Fox Run / Mother Teresa.

Elsewhere, Beacon Hill would change from a school zone to playground zone, while no changes are proposed for H.J. Cody or Lighthouse Christian Academy where those locations would remain school zones.

The anticipated cost to changing the existing school / hybrid signage to playground signage is approximately $3,000, an expense the Town’s transportation operating budget is expected to absorb.