Design changes to Gower Point Road meant to calm traffic flowing through the area were reviewed and OK’d by Town of Gibsons councillors, though they have also asked for other options to be brought to the table, including traffic lights.
Council voted on a resolution to authorize the developer to proceed with the traffic calming design at a July 6 regular council meeting, and that other design options and costs be brought back to council for review this September.
Gibsons Mayor Bill Beamish noted that the developer is “probably two years out from any work, but this authorizes them to proceed with continued work on the design.” He also noted staff could override the design. At this point, “it doesn’t mean there’s going to be work actually done,” he said.
Measures include reducing the speed limit to 30 kilometres an hour, posting “no truck” signage, adding centreline rumble and “mumble” strips, adding bike refuges and segments with a textured road surface and reducing traffic to a single lane on a section of road.
Gospel Rock developer Greenlane Homes is mandated to introduce traffic calming measures along Gower Point Road between Franklin Road and ending at the town boundary before Secret Beach in a development agreement issued by the town for the development, located above the road.
Council had previously authorized Dave Newman, the town’s director of infrastructure services, to approve the design, and feedback was also sought from the public, including a public meeting on June 21.
The town received 37 comments, with seven people in favour of the design and 12 people preferring to see some changes, such as removing the single-lane segment, maximizing bike refuges, installing streetlights and removing rumble strips.
Newman also responded to a Transportation Choices (TraC) letter looking at bollards and a fence, which he said would be considered in a future detailed design, and he also agreed with distinguishing between cycling and walking areas along a boardwalk that’s expected to be installed on the water side of the road.
During a committee-of-the whole meeting where the design was discussed at length, councillors raised questions about process and the benefits of adding lights, even if it costs more money for the town.
According to Newman, traffic light installation was rejected as an option since it can range from $150,000 to $500,000 with operations and maintenance costing up to $30,000 annually. Similarly, a cyclist-activated signal would be too costly, he said, and both measures fall outside the development agreement.
But Coun. Stafford Lumley came out strongly in favour of lights. “As a councillor I’d be more than happy to vote to pay for those lights and upgrade whatever those developer costs are. I think that’s the best option,” he said.
Coun. Annemaire De Andrade described public safety as a “serious issue.”
“I don’t feel we are getting the level of security,” she said.
She, too, wanted staff to look at traffic light options, as did Coun. Aleria Ladwig.
Newman suggested council direct staff to prepare a report for options in September, looking at traffic lights and funding options, as the developer proceeds with the design as planned.
Councillors approved that option at the regular council meeting.
Prior to the vote, Lumley took issue with the fact that the project could proceed without approval from council and suggested that process should be reviewed when concerning matters of public safety.
“It’s a little disconcerting for me that council feels so strongly about something but that decision could ultimately be taken out of their hands, when the repercussion of any decision falls right back on council,” he said.
