The Transportation Safety Plan 2021 recommends harmonizing School and Playground Zones. Harmonizing School and Playground Zones means the City of Lethbridge would:
•Change existing School Zones to Playground Zones
•Change the effective time of Playground Zones to 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM, every day
Concerns with current practice
Playground Zones
School Zones
•In effect from 8:30 AM to one hour after sunset vs. school zones in effect from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
•In effect everyday of the year vs. school zones only in effect when school is held
•Late start time, in summer playground usage starts earlier that 8:30 AM
•One hour after sunset varies with the season and is confusing for drivers
•In effect from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM vs. playground zone in effect from 8:30 AM to one hour after sunset
•In effect on any day that school is held vs. playground zones in effect everyday of the year
•Only effective during school days and drivers are not sure which days are school days
•Schools are regularly used outside of school hours, well into the evenings on weekdays and weekends for extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, etc.
•Many schools have playground equipment and are used as playgrounds outside of school hours/days
Current practice is inconsistent with many municipalities in Alberta that have harmonized School and Playground Zones.
Why harmonize playground and school zones?
Fixed end time is easier for motorists to remember (one hour after sunset varies with the season)
Longer speed reduction in Playground Zones would increase safety by reducing the severity of collisions
A consistent provincial start and end time for Playground Zones and School Zones making it easier for motorists to remember to reduce speed and reduce confusion for drivers
Municipalities with harmonized school and playground zones: Calgary (2015), Medicine Hat (2016), Red Deer (2017), Edmonton (2018), Chestermere (2019), High River (2018), Sylvan Lake (2019), Coaldale (2022)
Lethbridge School District, Holy Spirit School District, and Lethbridge Police Service have provided their support
Estimated Implementation Cost: $80,000
Next steps
Gather community feedback between Jan 18 - Feb 19, 2023 - complete the survey
April 2023: Presentation to City Council
Further steps (subject to City Council approval):
•Amendment of Traffic Bylaw 5834
•Fabrication and installation of signs June through August 2023
•The new zones will be effective as the signs are replaced
•All signs should be replaced by the first day of school in September 2023
The Transportation Safety Plan 2021 recommends harmonizing School and Playground Zones. Harmonizing School and Playground Zones means the City of Lethbridge would:
•Change existing School Zones to Playground Zones
•Change the effective time of Playground Zones to 7:30 AM to 9:00 PM, every day
Concerns with current practice
Playground Zones
School Zones
•In effect from 8:30 AM to one hour after sunset vs. school zones in effect from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM
•In effect everyday of the year vs. school zones only in effect when school is held
•Late start time, in summer playground usage starts earlier that 8:30 AM
•One hour after sunset varies with the season and is confusing for drivers
•In effect from 7:30 AM to 4:30 PM vs. playground zone in effect from 8:30 AM to one hour after sunset
•In effect on any day that school is held vs. playground zones in effect everyday of the year
•Only effective during school days and drivers are not sure which days are school days
•Schools are regularly used outside of school hours, well into the evenings on weekdays and weekends for extracurricular activities, clubs, sports, etc.
•Many schools have playground equipment and are used as playgrounds outside of school hours/days
Current practice is inconsistent with many municipalities in Alberta that have harmonized School and Playground Zones.
Why harmonize playground and school zones?
Fixed end time is easier for motorists to remember (one hour after sunset varies with the season)
Longer speed reduction in Playground Zones would increase safety by reducing the severity of collisions
A consistent provincial start and end time for Playground Zones and School Zones making it easier for motorists to remember to reduce speed and reduce confusion for drivers
Municipalities with harmonized school and playground zones: Calgary (2015), Medicine Hat (2016), Red Deer (2017), Edmonton (2018), Chestermere (2019), High River (2018), Sylvan Lake (2019), Coaldale (2022)
Lethbridge School District, Holy Spirit School District, and Lethbridge Police Service have provided their support
Estimated Implementation Cost: $80,000
Next steps
Gather community feedback between Jan 18 - Feb 19, 2023 - complete the survey
April 2023: Presentation to City Council
Further steps (subject to City Council approval):
•Amendment of Traffic Bylaw 5834
•Fabrication and installation of signs June through August 2023
•The new zones will be effective as the signs are replaced
•All signs should be replaced by the first day of school in September 2023
The Transportation Safety Plan 2021 recommends harmonizing School and Playground Zones. Harmonizing School and Playground Zones means the City of Lethbridge would:
Change existing School Zones to Playground Zones.
Change the effective time of Playground Zones to 7:30 am to 9:00 pm, every day.
As part of the community engagement for this project, we are seeking your feedback.
