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.
“I’ve tried to cross a pedestrian crossing on that strip and people are definitely speeding,” 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.
“Let’s slow people down through that area,” Coun. Rick de Jong said. “You’ve 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.”
Coun. Garrett Millsap agreed.
“I can get behind 30 kilometres an hour there. I think it’s one of the things I’ve said a lot of times, the slower the speed, the safer the road.”
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’t go far enough.
“By changing it to an enforceable 40 km/h, we’re 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.
“There’s a lot of vehicles that turn up on Gellatly towards the highway, but there’s 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?” 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’s 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.
