The City of Duncan is considering lowering speed limits on its streets.
Staff are proposing reducing speed limits on most of Duncan’s streets down to 30 km/hr from the current 50 unless otherwise posted, except for a number of connector streets which would see the speed dropped to 40 km/hr.
The connector streets would include Government Street, Canada Avenue north of James Street, Coronation Avenue, and Trunk Road.
Brian Murphy, Duncan’s director of public works and engineering, told council about the proposed initiative, called the City-wide Speed Reduction Project, at its meeting on May 3.
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He said it targets several road safety issues; including speeding, distracted driving, pedestrian safety, children at play, road safety for disadvantaged groups, and unsafe driving.
Murphy said travel speeds are a critical factor in determining the severity of a crash and whether it occurs at all.
“The faster the speed, the less time drivers have to react to unexpected situations, and the risk of death and injury increases significantly as travel speeds increase,” he said
“A 2014 briefing note from the National Collaborating Centre for Healthy Public Policy reports that a pedestrian struck at 30 km/hr has a 90 per cent chance of surviving, while at 50 km/hr they have only a 15 per cent chance. Therefore, reducing speed limits can significantly increase the chances of survival, especially for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.”
Murphy said it has been determined that 50 new speed-limit signs would have to be installed, and two sign changes would have to be made, including new signs at all entrances to the city where there are connections to North Cowichan, the CVRD, Cowichan Tribes, and the Trans-Canada Highway.
He said the proposed initiative has received a grant of $18,000 from Vision Zero BC, and there is an additional $30,000 in approved capital from Duncan’s Gas Tax funds in its budget for 2023 that can be used for the project as well.
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“The project has also been submitted for consideration for ICBC Road Improvement Projects funding,” Murphy said.
“If successful, the city’s contribution would be reduced or additional reminder signs can be installed. Other municipalities such as Saanich, Victoria and others are also evaluating and implementing similar speed-limit reduction programs to varying degrees.”
Coun. Tom Duncan said he believes reducing speed limits in the city is a good idea, but he would like to see the public consulted first so council would have a better sense of what the community wants before moving forward with the project.
Coun. Jenni Capps agreed, saying that there’s no need for anyone going 50 km/hr on the streets in the busy downtown core.
“But I agree that we should hold public consultations prior to implementing this,” she said.
Murphy said if council gives the green light to the project after public consultations are held in the coming weeks, he anticipates the new speed limits could be implemented this fall.
“This would be subject to being able to obtain the necessary materials in time, including new sign posts and signs, and of course those can be delayed by supply chain issues,” he said.
“The program’s roll-out may be done by zone depending on resources required to install the new signs, and other factors.”
robert.barron@cowichanvalleycitizen.com
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