TRAFFIC along West Keith Road and West 22nd Street should become slower and safer following District of North Vancouver council's decision last week to add speed bumps and raised crosswalks in the Pemberton Heights neighbourhood.
The plan includes three raised crosswalks and eight new speed bumps and speed tables. Speed tables generally follow the same dimensions as raised crosswalks and are designed to limit traffic speed to 50 kilometres per hour.
The cost of implementation is approximately $48,700, according to a staff report.
West Keith and West 22nd face vehicle volumes of 1,700 and 1,500 vehicles a day, respectively. The plan is not intended to reduce volume but to slow traffic and make pedestrians safer.
In a recent survey, 78 per cent of Pemberton Heights respondents were in favour of the measures.
While he spoke in favour of the plan, Coun. Alan Nixon said the district should consider making improvements to Pemberton Avenue between West Keith Road and West 20th Street. "There is no sidewalk," he said. "Kids have got no safe passage on Pemberton Avenue."
The lone note of dissent for the plan was voiced by Coun. Mike Little, who suggested the speed bumps are clustered too close together.
"I think this looks awful," Little said. "I think that it is overkill on West Keith."
Three of the speed bumps could do more good on West 21st Street, according to Little.
"I know it's a narrower road, but it's going to be the school access," he said. "If I'm a local, I'm going to realize pretty quickly that I can race up some of these side streets and race down 21st and get through and skip about five speed humps in the process. Unfortunately, that means traffic is going to be re-routed right next to the elementary school."
At least one driver looking for a quick route will still take West 22nd Street, said Coun. Robin Hicks. "As an occasional route runner, I would suggest that I would go along, probably West 22nd," Hicks said.
.png;w=120;h=80;mode=crop)
