Drivers used to sailing along Gower Point Road between Secret Beach and Franklin Road on their way to the ferry should prepare to add some time to their travel.
Before the first phase of the Gospel Rock development is complete, traffic calming measures must be implemented, as stipulated in the development agreement with the town.
While council has already authorized the director of infrastructure services to approve a design, the proposed changes were brought to committee for comment, as well as to the public at a June 21 community meeting.
The affected section of Gower Point Road starts at the Glassford and Franklin Road intersections and ends at the town boundary. It’s needed because of “adjacent land uses” such as the viewpoint at Gospel Rock, which will be further developed with a boardwalk on the water side of the road, according to a June 15 committee-of-the-whole staff report.
Under the proposed design, the speed limit would drop to 30 km/h from 40.
Traffic calming elements start with a crosswalk near Franklin Road linking up to a trail and the water side boardwalk. A textured road surface would be installed on both sides of the crosswalk section.
Rumble and mumble centreline strips would be added at an S-bend heading out of town after the crosswalk portion. More rumble strips would be added at the next corner, followed by a one-way section.
Another crosswalk would be added closer to Secret Beach, which would link up to the boardwalk on the water side and to a trail that winds its way up to Gospel Rock.
The developer also suggested adding a safety fence, a curb on the west side and creating “bike refuges” to allow bikes to pull over safely to allow traffic to pass.
Adding speed bumps or a centre median, widening the road or reducing the lane width were considered but ultimately rejected. Lights were considered too expensive and isolating.
A 2012 study found 150 cars travel through the area per hour during peak times, which coincide with the BC Ferries schedule.
At the June 15 committee meeting, infrastructure services director Dave Newman said the single-lane segment is the only element that would have a “noticeable impact on reducing vehicle speed and I anticipate vehicle volume as well.”
Newman’s concern with the remaining proposed elements is commuters would simply get used to them and continue at higher-than-desired speeds.
The section of one-way traffic would be approximately 60 to 80 metres and would be similar to “first come, first serve” bridges. An area for cyclists could be preserved so they can flow through unimpeded on leftover road width segments, he said.
Because council has previously voted to eliminate plans for a multi-use path on the Gospel Rock lands in the area, the road would have to ensure safe passage for cyclists, according to staff.
At the meeting, Newman noted the developer had not yet formally agreed to abandon the path plans.
Gibsons staff have met with Transportation Choices Sunshine Coast (TraC) to discuss ideas, and Newman said they may review the design again following the public consultation.
“I can virtually guarantee you that many drivers will have a problem with this because drivers are interested in getting from point A to point B as fast as reasonably possible,” he said.
Mayor Bill Beamish asked that the report be brought back to council for further review in July before staff approach the developer.
While the town doesn’t take on any capital costs associated with the project, the staff report noted there would be “associated operations and maintenance costs” – including operating and maintaining the walkway on the waterside.
At a June 21 public meeting, one resident called the idea of adding a one-way section “insane” since it could produce bottlenecks during ferry traffic times.
“It’s going to be really inconvenient, particularly for the people who live down in that area trying to get out,” she said.
Newman said the design is supposed to discourage ferry traffic along Gower Point Road to begin with and encourage people to take Pratt and Gibsons Way or Reed Road instead, which align with long-term traffic plans for the area.
Following the June 21 public meeting, staff is expected to get back to the developer to review a detailed design before the end of July.
Another meeting is also planned with TraC following public consultation.
