Councillor John Burnside (Ward 26) commented on the unanimous vote by the Toronto and East York Council to lower the speed limit on residential streets to 30 km/h. Ward 26 (including Leaside) is in the next-door North York Community Planning Area. Bayview Ave. divides them. Mr. Burnside said that he will raise the subject at North York Council and if the community wishes to proceed with a similar reduction he would feel obliged to support such an initiative. “My biggest concern is that (the lower speed limit) would be taken as a kind of panacea to all traffic problems,” said the Councillor. “I feel that driver behaviour overall may be more important.” He noted that most complaints he receives are related to stop sign violations and inattention by drivers “I’m just not sure how much it’s going to help,” he told The South Bayview Bulldog. It is estimated that it will cost a million dollars to convert signage in Toronto and East York to conform with council’s will. That money is not in the municipal budget at present and the question remains as to how it will be approved. Mr. Burnside said he did not know how approval might proceed but added: “I know that when you want a traffic study and there’s no money in the budget, the traffic study doesn’t get done.” There are eleven Wards in the North York area including Ward 26. Map
