WHEREAS many communities in British Columbia have main highways going through their downtown core which are major traffic routes for commercial truck traffic; AND WHEREAS the mix of use in community downtown core areas such as pedestrians, cyclists, residential traffic, and truck traffic creates a significant safety issue: THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Ministry of Transportation reduce the highway speed limit from 50 km per hour to 30 km per hour in downtown areas, if this is requested by a local government.
MINISTRY OF TRANSPORTATION The resolution would appear to apply to any British Columbia municipality that: - has a provincial highway going through its downtown core; and - specifically requests to the Ministry of Transportation that the speed limit on the highway through its downtown core be reduced. The Ministry already works with municipalities that request changes to speed limits on provincial highways through that municipality. Those requests are evaluated based on provincial policy, local traffic conditions and engineering studies. It is important to note that this resolution specifically mentions Rossland in its title line. Reducing the speed limit on Highway 3B Columbia Avenue through Rossland has been requested on a number of previous occasions most recently in 2006. Rosslands rationale has been that it is a resort town and requires special treatment. The Ministry of Transportation Ministry has reviewed Rosslands request and the result was that the Regional Traffic Engineer denied the request to lower the speed limit. Her reasons were as follows: - Highway 3B through Rossland serves an important role in the movement of goods and people through the region contributing to a vibrant economy. - The Ministry is working with Rossland to address their traffic safety concerns. - The Ministry requires minimum speed limits on numbered highways to be 50 kmh. - The roadway character of Highway 3B Columbia Avenue through Rossland is suitable for driving 50 kmh. - Other resorts where the ministry has reduced the speed limit differ from Rossland in that they are a destination and not a through route. - If speeding is a concern, then this issue should be directed to the RCMP. Studies in North America have consistently found that lowering the speed limit by posting a sign does not affect the actual operating speed of motorists unless it is backed up by continuous and intense enforcement.