Drivers will soon need to ease off the gas along a popular stretch of Gellatly Road in West Kelowna.
At its July 8 meeting, city council voted to lower the speed limit from 50 km/h to 30 km/h between Boucherie Road and Gellatly Road South. The busy corridor that connects parks, beaches, trails and the West Kelowna Yacht Club.
Staff had recommended a 40 km/h limit, based on a review by a third-party traffic consultant. But council opted to go even lower, citing safety concerns for pedestrians, children and beachgoers.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檝e tried to cross a pedestrian crossing on that strip and people are definitely speeding,乌鸦传媒� Coun. Tasha DaSilva said.
Several councillors pushed for a lower limit to reflect how the road is actually used, not just by vehicles, but by people on foot and bikes.
乌鸦传媒淟et乌鸦传媒檚 slow people down through that area,乌鸦传媒� Coun. Rick de Jong said. 乌鸦传媒淵ou乌鸦传媒檝e got Willow Beach that is wide open with limited barriers between kids playing on the beach and running across, to the angle parking and people coming in from both sides.乌鸦传媒�
Coun. Garrett Millsap agreed.
乌鸦传媒淚 can get behind 30 kilometres an hour there. I think it乌鸦传媒檚 one of the things I乌鸦传媒檝e said a lot of times, the slower the speed, the safer the road.乌鸦传媒�
Staff noted that the current playground advisory signs suggesting 30 km/h aren't enforceable, and national guidelines discourage using playground zones on major roads. The proposed 40 km/h signs would have been enforceable, staff said, but most councillors felt that didn乌鸦传媒檛 go far enough.
乌鸦传媒淏y changing it to an enforceable 40 km/h, we乌鸦传媒檙e actually going backwards, especially around the parks, Coun. Jason Friesen said, referencing the unenforceable 30 km/h signs.
Mayor Gord Milsom said he understood the push for lower speeds, but raised questions about possible traffic impacts farther up the road.
乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 a lot of vehicles that turn up on Gellatly towards the highway, but there乌鸦传媒檚 also a tremendous number that go through right to Glenrosa. What will be the impact on Gellatly Road and the highway intersection up there at Carrington?乌鸦传媒� he asked.
The new enforceable 30 km/h speed limit is expected to come into effect within the next few weeks. Installation of new signs will cost around $10,000 and be funded from the city乌鸦传媒檚 existing signage budget.
The stretch of road sees heavy pedestrian traffic during the summer months, with angle parking, playgrounds, informal parking areas and several public amenities nearby.
Staff also plan to review other locations in West Kelowna where unenforceable playground speed signs are posted. Further recommendations on enforceable speed limits in those areas will come to council later.
