The MLA for Moncton Northwest is concerned that Magnetic Hill School may not fall under the criteria to have its speed limit standardized.
Transportation Minister Bill Fraser recently introduced amendments to the Motor Vehicle Act that would set standardized speed limits in school zones.
But Conservative MLA Ernie Steeves says this may not apply to Magnetic Hill, ‘If there is a situation that is unsafe, then it has to be dealt with and it has to be taken care of now, without anymore studies. But it doesn’t look like there is going to be a change. The kids at Magnetic Hill School have to be protected. They have to lower that speed limit. They are about a half a kilometre from the former Trans Canada Highway. I don’t know why they don’t just put rumble strips in and lower the speed limit.”
Standardized speed limits, will be based on a technical evaluation done by a professional Engineer.
“These amendments very clearly set out the circumstances in which the speed limit in a school zone can be varied,” said Fraser. “It is important that those variations are based on engineering principles.”
Factors considered in the technical evaluation include: traffic volume, geometry of the road, road conditions, the presence of any bridges or railway crossings, residential and commercial development, intersections and prevailing traffic speeds. Engineers also consider observed pedestrian and motorist behaviours.
I always base it on the advice I get from a professional Engineer, that has all of the expertise and the Transportation Association of Canada guidelines, because they are trained to do that. I am not, Fraser adds.
The province recently launched another study that is examining the speed limit in front of Magnetic Hill, and results are expected sometime next month.
Members of the Anglophone East District Education Council, along with the Parent School Support Committee, have been pushing for a reduction from 70 kilometres an hour, to 50 kilometres.
“This takes the politics out of it, because Sherry Wilson who is a local MLA in that region, when they were in government from 2010 to 2014, the speed zones at Magnetic Hill were not an issue. All of a sudden they are now. That is why we are making it a requirement to have to follow the recommendation of a professional Engineer, “Fraser stressed.
Magnetic Hill School is not in Steeves riding, but he says my constituents are the ones that feed the school, “Most of the kids that go to that school are from my constituency. I have to look out for them. If there is a situation that is unsafe, it needs to to be taken care of.”
