Burns Lake council has decided to defer the decision on whether to lower speed limits within the village to 30 km/h until budget discussions take place early next year.
Although council had previously expressed the need to consult with the public before making a decision, councillor Susan Schienbein said last week that the consultation would not necessarily be about asking the public for their opinion.
“It’s not about consulting with them, I think it’s about engaging and making sure that they understand why we want to make the change,” she said during last week’s council meeting. “I think that if we went out and asked if they are favourable, some people will say that they are not favourable; but the reality is that we want to make the community as livable [as possible] and safe for the pedestrians.”
The current speed limit in Burns Lake is 50 km/h unless otherwise posted. The potential change would not include Hwy. 16, where the current speed limit is also 50 km/h.
According to a village staff report, a study to assess the need of reducing speed limits in town would cost the village between $5500 and $7500.
“I’m not entirely sure that we need a study to tell us that it would be safe to reduce the speed limit,” said councillor Michael Riis-Christianson. “That seems expensive.”
Burns Lake Mayor Chris Beach agreed.
“If you’re doing 50 [km/h], if feels like you’re going too fast,” said Beach. “If you’re driving 50 [km/h] and there are kids in their front yards, it’s not comfortable.”
The Burns Lake RCMP would also be in support of reducing the speed limit to 30 km/h.
According to village staff, there have also been concerns over the locations or lack of stop signs at some of the intersections in Burns Lake. Council is considering turning a three-way stop into a four-way stop at the intersection of Eighth Avenue and Centre Street.
A traffic signs study would cost the village $9232, but half of it ($4616) would be funded by ICBC. The number of street signs required would have to be determined; however, each sign would cost approximately $250, excluding signposts.
According to director of public works Dale Ross, there are no funds left in this year’s pubic works budget to complete any of these studies.
Councillor Schienbein said council should wait before making any decisions.
“I think one thing we’ll need to do is wait until our budget deliberation, and in the interim we could find out if Fraser Lake has had to do any study or consultation [to lower their speed limits].”
The speed limit in Fraser Lake is currently 30 km/h unless otherwise posted (not including Hwy. 16). In Houston, Smithers and Vanderhoof, the speed limit is 50 km/h unless otherwise posted.
