Outremont speed limit drops to 30 km/h on residential streets

Drivers will now have to slow down substantially when driving in Outremont.

Starting today, the speed limit is dropping from 40 to 30 kilometres per hour on all residential streets — including busy Bernard and Laurier avenues. 

Previously, only school zones and areas around parks were subject to the limit.

The three arterial streets — Côte Ste-Catherine Road and Van Horne and Rockland avenues — will remain at 40 kilometres per hour.

The lower speed limit will make the neighbourhood safer for residents, according to the borough.

Outremont sets a precedent

According to the SAAQ, Quebec's automobile insurance board, an average of three pedestrians and two cyclists are hit by a car every day in Montreal.

"Our borough council has lowered the speed limit on our residential streets in order to increase the safety of people," said Outremont Mayor Marie Cinq-Mars.

"The measure should also facilitate the coexistence between motorists, cyclists and pedestrians on our territory."

On Sep. 2, the borough council voted to cut speeds. Transports Québec approved the move in October.

Since the motion was adopted, several other boroughs said they intended to do the same. 

Last week, the Southwest borough voted to reduce the speed limit to 30 kilometres an hour on its residential streets.

The Plateau Mont-Royal and Rosemont boroughs will vote whether to drop their speed limits the evening of Dec. 1.