Council approves 30 km/h school zones, electronic parking meters

Edmonton city councillors unanimously passed a motion to impose 30 km/hspeed zones around schools with elementary grades.

The City's Transportation Committee approved the plan a few days earlier. In addition to reducing speeds around all Edmonton schools with elementary grades, the city will be chipping in about $500,000 to pay for enforcement in the school zones.

Mayor Don Iveson said people need to slow down in order to keep children safe.

He described the new speed zones as a cultural shift, saying it is more than just changing signs and enforcement. He also said the level of risk around schools especially for children has to be zero.

The speed zones are expected to be put in place for the start of the school year in September.

New parking meters approved

CIty council is also going ahead with a plan to replace coin parking meters with new electronic machines.

The new parking metres will allowdrivers to pay using their debit or credit cards, or set up an account and pay via their smartphones.