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Thirty kilometre per hour speed limits are coming soon to Richmond’s neighbourhood streets.
This week, city council voted unanimously in favour of giving three readings to a bylaw amendment imposing that limit on almost all residential roads.
It’s expected this change will be adopted at one of council’s next meetings.
“It’s the right speed to go,” said Coun. Laura Gillanders. “There’s not sidewalks in every neighborhood. There’s children on bicycles. It just makes sense.”
Arterial roads carrying high traffic will still have limits of 50 km/h.
Years ago, the city implemented 30 km/h limits in select zones, such as Steveston. Under the new rules, this limit will expand to just about all of Richmond’s residential areas.
However, it excludes some regions — most notably the city centre, which includes areas between Blundell and River roads, and Gilbert Road to No. 4 Road.
“We got 30 [km/h] in Steveston and it’s working,” said Coun. Bill McNulty. “People are respecting it.”
There will also be policy changes that will make it easier for the municipality to implement traffic calming measures, such as speed bumps.
Once the bylaw amendment is adopted, the city will begin phasing in signs for the new 30 km/h limit. This is expected to take between two to three months over the summer, once the approach has been approved by council. Signage is required for enforcement.
The city will also be undertaking a public education and communications campaign to help raise awareness about the new rules.
Coun. Kash Heed, along with McNulty, brought forth the original motion.
“Coun. McNulty and I first started discussing what we could do to lower the speed limit because of the pedestrian injury accidents that were occurring around the central business district of Richmond,” Heed told CBC News.
He was referring to No. 3 Road between Granville Avenue and Westminster Highway. It’s home to Richmond Centre, a Canada Line station and residential high rises. However, this upcoming bylaw does not impose a 30 km/h limit in that area.
Heed said he hopes to do that in a different motion in the future.
