🛣️ How Hamilton Decides When (and Why) to Change Speed Limits

When residents request a speed limit reduction on their street, it's easy to assume the decision comes down to the number of complaints or how dangerous a road feels. The reality is more technical - speed limit changes are guided by national engineering standards and a risk-based approach designed to balance safety, driver behaviour, and road design.

The Method Behind the Signs

The City of Hamilton follows the Transportation Association of Canada's Canadian Guidelines for Establishing Posted Speed Limits (TAC CGEPS) - a national framework used by municipalities across the country.

These guidelines analyze how a roadway's physical and traffic characteristics affect safety. Engineers consider factors such as:

• Road type and function (residential, collector, or arterial)

• Lane width, shoulder type, and curves

• Intersection spacing and access points

• Pedestrian and cyclist activity

• Collision history and traffic volumes

Each element contributes to a risk score. A higher-risk environment leads to a lower recommended speed limit, while a lower-risk environment can safely support higher posted speeds.

Why Not Always Lower?

While it might seem safer to post lower limits everywhere, the CIty of Hamilton has explained to my office, that doing so can actually backfire -especially on major roads. When a speed limit is set well below what most drivers consider reasonable for the conditions, several problems emerge:

• Compliance drops, meaning more drivers exceed the limit

• Speed variance increases, which can actually raise collision risk

• Frustrated drivers may attempt unsafe passing or exhibit aggressive behaviour

That's why engineering teams aim for a limit that both improves safety and aligns with typical, responsible driver behaviour.

A Recent Example: Upper James Street

Following a review of Upper James Street (from Twenty Road West to Highway 6) - a four-lane arterial road - staff assessed the corridor using the TAC CGEPS framework.

Their findings showed that:

• Twenty Road West to Glanair Drive (currently 70 km/h) could safely support 60 km/h

• Glanair Drive to Highway 6 (currently 80 km/h) could safely support 70 km/h

Based on these results, staff recommended reducing the posted limit from 70 km/h to 60 km/h in the first section, and from 80 km/h to 70 km/h in the second section. They also recommended adding a "No U-Turn" restriction southbound near the Amazon access to prevent unsafe turning movements.

The associated by-law amendments are expected to appear at the October 29 Council Meeting, with signage changes to follow if approved.

In Summary

Speed limit decisions are guided by measurable criteria - not by opinion or volume of requests. The City's goal is to balance safety, consistency, and driver behaviour across the entire transportation network.

If you'd like to learn more or share a road safety concern in Ward 11, please contact my office anytime at 905-546-2110 or ward11@hamilton.ca. Every request my office receives will get our full attention and ensure the correct contact at City Hall reviews your concern.