Speed limits are coming down in Rocky Mountain House.
Town council has amended its speed limits bylaw, lowering the speed limit to 40 kilometres per hour on most streets in Rocky Mountain House unless otherwise posted. It also makes all school and playground zones active 24 hours a day.
A few exceptions include roads east of the Highway 11 corridor, and 60 Street running by the North Saskatchewan River, which will both remain at 50 km/h.
Officials say the move is aimed at improving safety for both drivers and pedestrians. Council previously heard that a pedestrian struck by a vehicle travelling at 40 km/h has a 70 per cent chance of survival, compared to just 15 per cent at 50 km/h.
Councillor Marley Capraro said lower speed limits are a trend she’s seen in other communities.
By [amending the bylaw], you’re taking a proactive approach to safety,” said Councillor Marley Capraro. “You don’t want a situation where you have a tragic accident, and then say ‘well, now maybe we should lower the speed limit.”
The new bylaw also introduces 24-hour speed limits for school and playground zones, a move welcomed by several councillors who said it eliminates confusion and increases safety.
“I’ve always found it odd that you had to check your clock to see what speed you should be driving through a playground,” said Councillor Ken Moekser.
Streets in Rocky Mountain House that have posted speed limits of 30 km/h. (Town of Rocky Mountain House)
The decision follows a pilot project in the Creekside subdivision and positive feedback from a 2024 reduction in the McNutt area.
Ahead of the vote, the town launched a public engagement campaign that included local media coverage, social media posts, and an online explainer with a draft map. While no formal submissions were received, the town reported that 76 per cent of online engagement was supportive of the changes.
Councillor Dale Shippelt expressed concern that the decision was being made without a full public hearing, but a majority agreed the measures were proactive and aligned with traffic safety trends across Alberta.
A policy package indicated the initial cost would be $5,000 to purchase 40 km/h and signposts. After the install, the cost would be part of the operation budget.
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