The idea of lowering residential speed limits in Winnipeg to 40 km/h is being sent for review but Mayor Sam Katz isn't sure about the merits.

Couns. Harvey Smith and Ross Eadie introduced the motion on Wednesday at a meeting of the exective policy committee to drop the limit from 50 km/h.

A report from city administration on the motion is expected back within three months.

But Katz, who championed the lowering of speed limits in school zones to 30 km/h, thinks lowering speeds on residential streets may cause more harm than good.

But he wants to hear what the experts say, nonetheless.

"I think a lot of people would get, lose patience, get upset," he said.

"The astute thing to do is to wait to see what the professionals come back and what they say. There may be logical reasons for it so I'll just wait to see."

The adminsitration has 90 days to report back. If the city wanted to move on the idea, it would first need to go through a number of committees and then to a vote by council.

Even then, the province would still have to give final approval, since speed limits fall under the provincial highway act.