Traditional speed limit signs can only do so much, and the RM of Prince Albert No. 461 is hoping some digital signs will encourage drivers to slow down. (File Photo/paNOW Staff)

By Rob Mahon

Traffic Safety Grant

RM of Prince Albert gets grant money for digital speed signs

Jan 5, 2022 | 4:00 PM

Ninety-two communities across Saskatchewan have a little extra money in their pocket for traffic safety items, and the RM of Prince Albert No. 461 is one of them. They’ve received $14,600 in funds from the Provincial Traffic Safety Fund Grant program.

According to a release from the province and SGI, the funds will be directed toward a “Safety Project.” According to RM assistant administrator Karri Willick, this means they’ll be purchasing some digital speed signs they hope will encourage drivers to slow down.

“We had a few different project sites that we would like to target, some of which have experienced a lot of reckless driving and such,” Willick said. “What I was after was a different approach to target these areas. We applied for the grant, crossed our fingers and crossed our toes, and low and behold, we did get it.”

Willick said she’d seen how people slow down when faced with the digital signs that tell them their speed, and she wants to see the same effect in the RM.

“I can have as many slow down signs as I want, but looking at it from a different perspective, why not try something new,” Willick said. “It’s four signs allotted, give or take depending if the quote has changed since I applied for the grant.”

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According to SGI, the money for the grant comes from the provincial traffic safety fund. The largest stipend of money handed out was to the Town of Biggar, with $53,685 bookmarked for the first phase of their pedestrian safety initiative. It’s one of many projects the province is supporting.

“Those projects include things like speed display signs, playground safety measures, intersection improvements, dual speed limit signs,” said Heather Anderson of SGI. “Pedestrian and roadway signs, so a bunch of really great initiatives.”

According to Anderson, this grant has given out $4.8 million to over 400 projects since 2009. They’ve started accepting applications for the next round of Traffic Safety Fund grants as of January 1.

“For a community to get these grants, there’s a strict intake process,” she said. “That includes proving a well-defined action plan, specific, measurable traffic safety objectives, and evidence and safe information on how this funding will go toward reducing traffic collisions, injuries, and fatalities in their community.”

In other communities near Prince Albert, One Arrow First Nation received $8,277 for part two of their anti-speeding safety strategy.

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rob.mahon@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @RobMahonPxP